Tracy

Spirea

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Zelda' and 'Gold Flame'

Summary: The stems of 'Tracy' have dense pubescence whereas the stems of 'Zelda' and 'Gold Flame' have very sparse pubescence. The leaves of 'Tracy' are longer than those of 'Zelda' and wider than those of 'Gold Flame'. In springtime, the main colour of the upper side of the young leaves of 'Tracy' are orange brown whereas they are brown purple to brown red in 'Zelda' and light brown in 'Gold Flame'. The diameter of the inflorescence of 'Tracy' is larger than that of both reference varieties. The recurvature of the corolla margin of 'Tracy' is weak whereas it is absent or very weak for 'Zelda'.

Description:

PLANT: perennial shrub, bushy-rounded growth habit, strong degree of branching, dense to very dense foliage

STEM: light green, ranging from absent to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper shoots, dense pubescence, edged in cross section

LEAF: opposite arrangement, simple, ovate shape, petioles present, acute apex, cuneate base, serrate margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower sides
YOUNG LEAF IN SPRINGTIME: orange brown (RHS 168B) on upper side
EXPANDED LEAF IN SPRINGTIME: green brown on upper side (RHS 153C-D)
MATURE LEAF IN SUMMER: dark to light green (RHS 144A-B)

FLOWERING: early, long period
INFLORESCENCE: corymb, dense
COROLLA: free arrangement of lobes, rotate, weak curvature of margin, light blue-pink (RHS 69B)
STAMEN: long

Origin & Breeding History: 'Tracy' arose from the open pollination of the female parent Spirea fritschiana 'Wilma' with pollen from unnamed seedlings of Spirea japonica made in the summer of 2003 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. The new variety was selected in the summer of 2005 based on its flower colour and size, foliage colour and plant growth characteristics. Asexual reproduction of the variety was first conducted in Grand Haven, Michigan in the summer of 2005.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Tracy' 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 'Tracy' with reference varieties 'Zelda' and 'Gold Flame'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Main colour of upper side of leaf in springtime (RHS)

Main colour of mature leaf in summer (RHS)

Diameter of inflorescence (cm)

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Spirea: 'Tracy' (left) with reference variety 'Gold Flame' (right)

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Spirea: 'Tracy' (left) with reference varieties 'Gold Flame' (centre) and 'Zelda' (right)