Galen

Spirea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Anthony Waterer'

Summary: In the early spring, the shoot density of 'Galen' is medium to dense whereas it is sparse to medium on 'Anthony Waterer'. There is no pubescence on the stems of 'Galen' whereas there is medium to strong density on the stems of 'Anthony Waterer'. The leaf blades of 'Galen' are wider than those of 'Anthony Waterer'. The foliage of the young leaves of 'Galen' are brown purple in colour in the springtime whereas those of 'Anthony Waterer' are more red brown. The fully expanded leaves of 'Galen' are darker brown green than those of 'Anthony Waterer'. The inflorescence of 'Galen' is narrower in diameter than that of 'Anthony Waterer'. The corolla for 'Galen' is blue pink whereas it is purple red on 'Anthony Waterer'.

Description:

PLANT: perennial shrub, upright-bushy growth habit, medium to dense shoots in early spring, medium degree of branching, medium density of foliage

STEM: light green, no pubescence, ranging from absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration to weak on upper shoots, edged in cross section

LEAF: opposite arrangement, simple, ovate and elliptic shape, petioles present, acute apex, cuneate base, doubly serrate margin, no pubescence on upper and lower sides
YOUNG LEAF IN SPRINGTIME: brown purple (RHS 178B) with tones of brown green (RHS 146C) on upper side, slightly darker brown purple (RHS 178A-B) with tones of brown green (RHS 146C) and brown purple veins (RHS 184A-B) on the lower side
EXPANDED LEAF IN SPRINGTIME: brown green on upper side (RHS 146A), brown green (RHS 147B-C) on lower side
MATURE LEAF IN SUMMER: brown green (RHS 137B and 146A)

FLOWERING: early, long period
INFLORESCENCE: absent or very weak fragrance, corymb, dense
COROLLA: free arrangement of lobes, rotate, blue pink (RHS 72C) with purple margin (RHS 72B) and violet base (RHS 77B , medium in number
STAMEN: very long, red-purple anther, white pollen

Origin & Breeding History: 'Galen' arose from the open pollination of 'Magic Carpet' with the pollen from an unknown male parent made in the summer of 2004 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. The new variety was selected in the summer of 2006 based on its compact growth habit, novel purple flower colour, attractive foliage and good mildew resistance. Asexual reproduction of the variety was first conducted in Grand Haven, Michigan in the summer of 2006.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Galen' were conducted in St. Thomas, Ontario in a polyhouse during the early spring 2010 and continued in an outdoor irrigated container trial. The trial included 10 plants of the candidate variety and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted 4 inch liners planted into 2 gallon containers in May 2009. Trials were arranged with 1/2 meter spacing between plants and overwintered in a polyhouse. Most observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on May 10, 2010 with the exception of early spring characteristics which were recorded on April 14, 2010. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 RHS Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Galen' with reference variety 'Anthony Waterer'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Main colour of young leaf in springtime (RHS)

Main colour of expanded leaf in springtime (RHS)

Main colour of mature leaf in summer (RHS)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Spirea: 'Galen' (left) with reference variety 'Anthony Waterer' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Spirea: 'Galen' (left) with reference variety 'Anthony Waterer' (right)