Kolmpica

Snowberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Magical Treasure' and 'Magical Mandy'

Summary: The plants of 'Kolmpica' have dense branching while those of 'Magical Treasure' and 'Magical Mandy' have sparse to medium density branching. The leaf blade of 'Kolmpica' is longer than that of 'Magical Treasure' and wider than that of 'Magical Mandy'. The shape of the leaf blade of 'Kolmpica' is ovate while that of 'Magical Treasure' is orbicular. The outer side of the flower of 'Kolmpica' is mainly white with dark to medium blue pink near margins while that of 'Magical Treasure' is mainly medium purple transitioning to light blue pink towards the white base. The fruit of 'Kolmpica' is shorter than that of 'Magical Mandy' and narrower than that of 'Magical Treasure'. The fruit of 'Kolmpica' are mostly rounded while those of 'Magical Treasure' are oblate and those of 'Magical Mandy' are obconical to oblong.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, oblate shape, upright, bushy with upright branching, dense branching, fast growth rate

SHOOTS: red brown and grey brown
STEM: dark brown reticulated with light greyish brown, thick, absent or very sparse pubescence, round shape in cross-section, bark is smooth with some texture from fissures, absent or very weak glaucosity, absent or very few lenticels, absent or very few thorns/spines

PETIOLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration,
LEAF BLADE: simple type, arrangement along stem is opposite, ovate shape, broad apex with mucronate tip, obtuse to rounded base, entire margin, no indentations, no lobing, no variegation, weak rugosity, absent or very weak waviness of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium green at mid-season, no variegation
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium green to blue green at mid-season, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the veins

TIME OF FLOWERING: begins mid-season, occurs once per growing season, moderate length of time
INFLORESCENCE: panicle type
FLOWER BUD: small, light yellow green to light yellow (RHS 1C-D) and dark purple (RHS 58A)
FLOWER: campanulate shape, mainly white (RHS NN155A-B) on outer side, secondary colour dark to medium blue pink (RHS 64C-D) near margins

FRUIT: simple fleshy formation, berry type, white speckled with medium purple red (RHS N57C), mostly rounded
FRUIT SKIN: strong glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Kolmpica' originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in the early summer of 2004 in Heelsum, Netherlands between the female seed parent designated '02-12' and pollen from an unknown male parent. 'Kolmpica' was selected in 2007 in Heelsum, Netherlands as a single unique plant based on its stem length and strength and berry colour in the autumn. 'Kolmpica' was first propagated by cuttings in the winter of 2007 in Boskoop, Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The trials were conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2021, at BioFlora, Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 shrubs of the candidate variety and 4 shrubs each of the reference varieties. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into containers in the spring of 2020. Trials were arranged in rows with 1 meter spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety on June 21, 2021. Fruit characteristics were collected on September 9, 2021. All colour measurements were made using RHS Colour Chart 2015.

Comparison tables for 'Kolmpica' with reference varieties 'Magical Treasure' and 'Magical Mandy'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of outer side of flower (RHS)

Fruit height (mm)

Fruit width (mm)

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Snowberry: 'Kolmpica' (left) with reference varieties 'Magical Treasure' (centre) and 'Magical Mandy' (right)

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Snowberry: 'Kolmpica' (left) with reference varieties 'Magical Treasure' (centre) and 'Magical Mandy' (right)

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Snowberry: 'Kolmpica' (left) with reference varieties 'Magical Treasure' (centre) and 'Magical Mandy' (right)