Bodcomblu

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Quartz Blue'

Summary: 'Bodcomblu' has a darker violet-blue corolla colour than 'Quartz Blue'. The eye zone of 'Bodcomblu' is smaller than 'Quartz Blue'.

Description:

'Bodcomblu' is an annual plant with an upright growth habit. The stems have sparse to medium pubescence and are medium to dark green in colour with absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The leaves are ovate in shape with an obtuse shaped base, no divisions and crenate margins. The leaves are dark green. There is a leaf petiole present.

The inflorescences produced by 'Bodcomblu' have a broad obovate shape in profile. The calyx has no anthocyanin colouration present. The corolla tube is medium to long in length and has light green-yellow to light grey hairs protruding at the opening of the throat. The corolla has overlapping lobes that are incurved along the longitudinal axis. The corolla margin has weak undulation. The florets are single, and violet-blue in colour with a very small sized whitish-green eye zone. There are no petal markings.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Bodcomblu' was developed from a verbena breeding program conducted at John Bodger & Sons Co. Greenhouses in Lompoc, California, USA. The breeding objectives were to develop verbena with compact bush-type habit and attractive flower colours. The original cross took place in 1989 using 'Compact Blue' x ('Petite Purple' x 'Romance Blue'). The final selection occured in 2000.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Bodcomblu' were conducted in a polyhouse in Oxford Station, Ontario during the summer of 2005. The trials consisted of ten plants per variety. Unless indicated otherwise, measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison table for 'Bodcomblu' with reference variety 'Quartz Blue'

Colour of upper side of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'Bodcomblu' (left) with reference variety 'Quartz Blue' (right)