USBENAL8

Verbena

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'USBENAL21' (Superbena Blue Purple) and 'Spikena' (Tukana Denim Blue)

Summary: 'USBENAL8' produces plants with a larger leaf blade, larger inflorescence and larger floret than those of the reference varieties. Colour of the fully open florets for 'USBENAL8' is blue violet with darker blue violet at the base of the corolla lobes while for 'USBENAL21', it is light violet with darker blue violet at the base of the corolla lobes and for 'Spikena', it is dark violet fading to a paler violet as the florets mature. 'USBENAL8' has no eye zone while the reference varieties do.

Description:

'USBENAL8' is an annual verbena with a semi-creeping growth habit. The medium green stems have sparse to moderate pubescence and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The dark green leaves are ovate with a cuneate to truncate shaped base and crenate to dentate margins. The leaf blade is not divided. Pubescence of the leaf blade is dense on the upper and lower surfaces.

The inflorescence is a dome shaped corymb which is both axillary and terminal in location. The single florets are blue violet in colour with darker blue violet at the base of the corolla lobes and fade as they mature. The bracts are smaller in size than the calyx. The calyx has anthocyanin colouration on the upper part. The florets are large in size. The corolla lobes are not touching and curvature along the longitudinal axis is absent to recurved. Undulation of the corolla lobe margins is weak to moderate. 'USBENAL8' has no eye zone. The throat hairs of the corolla are dark purple in colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'USBENAL8' is the product of a planned breeding program by the breeder, Ushio Sakazaki, of Hikone, Shiga, Japan. It originated from a cross made on April 20, 1999, between an unnamed, dark blue seedling selection as the female parent and a wild verbena as the male parent. It was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny on June 10, 2000 in Bonsall, California, United States. 'USBENAL8' was selected based on large flower size and resistance to powdery mildew.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'USBENAL8' were conducted in a poly greenhouse at BioFlora Inc., St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2003. The trial consisted of 15 plants of each variety grown in 15 cm pots. Colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) colour charts. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'USBENAL8' with reference varieties 'USBENAL21' and 'Spikena'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Floret diameter (mm)

Main colour of upper side of floret (RHS)