SMNSJSA

Spirea

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'NCSX1' (Double Play Candy Corn)

Summary: The plants of ‘SMNSJSA' have medium density branching, medium density foliage and are taller than those of ‘NCSX1', which have dense branching and dense foliage. When first unfolding, the upper side of the leaf blade of ‘SMNSJSA' is dark brown purple transitioning to medium brown and light green whereas it is medium brown transitioning to medium yellow brown and medium yellow for ‘NCSX1'. The leaf blade of ‘SMNSJSA' is smaller than that of ‘NCSX1'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium density branching, medium density foliage, absent or very weak suckering tendency

YOUNG SHOOT: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, green
SHOOT: light brown, white pubescence, round in cross-section, thin

LEAF BLADE: ovate, acute apex, rounded base, weak rugosity, petiole present
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: serrate apex, teeth distributed over entire leaf, weak undulation, absent or very sparse pubescence
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): dark brown purple (RHS 178A) when first unfolding, medium brown (RHS 174A) and light green (RHS 151A) while unfolding, light green (RHS N144A) when fully open, sparse pubescence
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity on and between veins

INFLORESCENCE: corymb type, early season flowering, medium length flowering period, free arrangement of petals
FLORET: opens after leaf emergence
PETAL: dark purple (closest to RHS 61A) upper side, weak reflexing of margin, weak undulation
STAMEN: longer than petal, pink anther

Origin & Breeding History: ‘SMNSJSA' originated from an open pollination that occurred in 2015 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. The cross occurred between a female parent, an unnamed proprietary selection, and an unknown male parent. The new spirea variety ‘SMNSJSA' was selected as a single unique plant in 2018 based on its plant grown habit, foliage colour, floriferousness and flower colour. Asexual reproduction of ‘SMNSJSA' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in 2018 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘SMNSJSA' was conducted during the spring and summer of 2024 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. Rooted cuttings (10 cm) were transplanted into 7.6 litre pots in April 2023. Plants were overwintered in an non-heated double polyhouse. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety in the winter of 2023 for all characteristics with the exception of flower characteristics which were measured on June 17, 2024. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNSJSA' with reference variety 'NCSX1'

Plant height (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

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Spirea: 'SMNSJSA' (left) with reference variety 'NCSX1' (right)

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Spirea: 'SMNSJSA' (left) with reference variety 'NCSX1' (right)

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Spirea: 'SMNSJSA' (left) with reference variety 'NCSX1' (right)