SMNSJMFP

Spirea

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Galen' (Double Play Artisan) and 'Anthony Waterer'

Summary: The plants of 'SMNSJMFP' are taller than those of 'Galen' and wider than those of both reference varieties. The leaf blade of 'SMNSJMFP' is shorter than that of both reference varieties and narrower than that of 'Galen'. The inflorescence of 'SMNSJMFP' is larger in diameter than that of both reference varieties. When newly opened, the inner side of the corolla of 'SMNSJMFP' is purple to purple red while it is purple for 'Galen' and purple to blue pink for 'Anthony Waterer'. When aged, the inner side of the corolla of 'SMNSJMFP' is purple to blue pink while it is lighter purple to blue pink for 'Galen' and blue pink for 'Anthony Waterer'.

Description:

PLANT: upright to spreading growth habit, dense branching, dense foliage

YOUNG SHOOT: light green
SHOOT: reddish brown, sparse pubescence, white pubescence, round in cross-section, medium thickness

LEAF: elliptic shape, acute and acuminate apex, rounded and acute base, dentate margin, teeth distributed over entire leaf margin, absent or very weak undulation along margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower sides, absent or very weak glaucosity on lower side, absent or very weak glaucosity on veins of lower side, weak rugosity, petiole present
YOUNG LEAF: brown green (RHS 146B) with tones of dark purple red (RHS 187B) on upper side, brown green (RHS 147C) with tones of brown purple (RHS 183D) on lower side, innermost leaves are brown purple to dark purple red (RHS 187A-B)
EXPANDED LEAF: brown green (RHS N137B) on upper side, brown green (closest to RHS 191A-B) on lower side
MATURE LEAF IN FALL: brown purple (RHS 178A) and medium brown (redder than RHS 166A) on upper side

FLOWERING: early, medium duration, occurs after leaf emergence
INFLORESCENCE: peduncle present, foliage on peduncle present, compound corymb type, many florets per corymb
FLOWER BUD: dark purple red (RHS 187B) on outer side
CALYX: sparse pubescence
COROLLA LOBES: free to touching arrangement, purple to purple red (RHS 61B-C) on inner side when newly opened, purple to blue pink (RHS 64B-D) on inner side when aged, medium reflexing of petal margin, absent or very weak undulation of petal
RECEPTACLE: absent or very sparse pubescence
STAMEN: longer in relation to petals, pink anther

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNSJMFP' originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred between a block of 100 unnamed M1 seedlings and an unknown male parent in June 2007. The resulting seed was collected from 10 plants. In June 2009, the new variety 'SMNSJMFP' was selected from the M2 generation based on plant growth habit, flower colour and leaf colour. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNSJMFP' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in June 2009 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNSJMFP' was conducted in a container trial during the spring and summer of 2016 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from 10 cm rooted cuttings and transplanted into 7.5 litre pots on June 23, 2015. Plants were overwintered in an above-zero double polyhouse. All observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on May 6, 2016 except plant size which was measured on July 13, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNSJMFP' with reference varieties 'Galen' and 'Anthony Waterer'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla (RHS)

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Spirea: 'SMNSJMFP' (left) with reference varieties 'Galen' (centre) and 'Anthony Waterer' (right)

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Spirea: 'SMNSJMFP' (left) with reference varieties 'Galen' (centre) and 'Anthony Waterer' (right)

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Spirea: 'SMNSJMFP' (left) with reference varieties 'Galen' (centre) and 'Anthony Waterer' (right)