SMNSNFD

Spirea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Snowmound'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the young stem is medium for 'SMNSNFD' whereas the intensity is strong for 'Snowmound'. The leaf blade of 'SMNSNFD' is smaller than the leaf blade of 'Snowmound'. The plants of 'SMNSNFD' begin flowering early whereas the plants of 'Snowmound' begin flowering mid-season. The flower of 'SMNSNFD' is smaller in diameter than the flower of 'Snowmound'. The arrangement of the petals of 'SMNSNFD' ranges from not touching to touching whereas the arrangement of the petals of 'Snowmound' ranges from touching to overlapping.

Description:

PLANT: upright to spreading growth habit, dense branching, medium density of foliage

CURRENT SEASON SHOOT: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
SHOOT: absent to very sparse pubescence, angular shape in cross-section, very light green

PETIOLE: present
LEAF: simple type, alternate arrangement along shoot
LEAF BLADE: elliptic to oblanceolate shape, acute apex, cuneate base, absent or very weak rugosity
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: mostly entire with crenate type on margin along distal third of leaf blade, absent or very weak undulation, absent or very sparse pubescence
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): yellow green when newly open, medium to dark green when fully open, absent or very sparse pubescence
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity between veins, absent or very weak glaucosity of veins

FLOWERING: begins early after leaf emergence, short period
INFLORESCENCE: compound corymb type, medium number of flowers
PEDUNCLE: foliage present
RECEPTACLE: absent or very sparse pubescence
CALYX: absent or very sparse pubescence
PETAL: white (RHS NN155A) inner side, not touching to touching arrangement, absent or very weak reflexing of margin, absent or very weak undulation
STAMEN: shorter than petal, yellow white anther

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNSNFD' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in 2007 in Grand Haven, Michigan, between the variety 'Flachenfuller', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'SMNSNFD' was selected in 2009 for its compact plant growth habit, abundant flowering, and good plant health. 'SMNSNFD' was first reproduced asexually by softwood cuttings during the summer of 2013 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNSNFD' was conducted as an outdoor container trial during the spring and summer of 2017 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. The shrubs originated from 10 cm long rooted cuttings that were transplanted into 8.8 litre pots on July 16, 2016. The shrubs were overwintered in a non-heated double polyhouse. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs or parts of 10 shrubs of each variety on July 6, 2017, with the exception of the flower characteristics which were observed on June 3, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNSNFD' with reference variety 'Snowmound'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Diameter of flower (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Spirea: 'SMNSNFD' (left) with reference variety 'Snowmound' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Spirea: 'SMNSNFD' (left) with reference variety 'Snowmound' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Spirea: 'SMNSNFD' (left) with reference variety 'Snowmound' (right)