Balazcoral

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balazpeach' (Aztec Peach)

Summary: Plants of ‘Balazcoral' are mostly creeping, whereas those of ‘Balazpeach' are semi-upright. ‘Balazcoral' has a larger corolla than ‘Balazpeach'. The main colour of the upper side of the corolla of ‘Balazcoral' is red pink when newly open and light red pink when fully open, whereas it is orange brown when newly open and orange pink when fully open for ‘Balazpeach'.

Description:

PLANT: mostly creeping, medium in width

STEM: light green, dense pubescence, absent to very weak anthocyanin

LEAF: long, medium to wide
LEAF BLADE: ovate, truncate base, no divisions, crenate to serrate margin, dark green, no anthocyanin
PETIOLE: medium in length

INFLORESCENCE: large, broad ovate in profile
CALYX: no anthocyanin
COROLLA: large in diameter, one-coloured, even in colour, red pink when newly opened and light red pink when fully open, strongly fading with age
COROLLA LOBES: overlapping, incurved, strong undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: protruding hair light green in colour
COROLLA EYE ZONE: present on all lobes, medium diameter, green-yellow

Origin & Breeding History: ‘Balazcoral' originated from a cross made in February 2003, in Arroyo Grande, California, U.S.A. The female parent was a proprietary verbena selection called ‘BFP-1891', characterized by its rose-red flower colour, dark green leaf colour and semi-upright growth habit. The male parent was a verbena ‘Lan Rose' (Lanai™ Rose), US Plant Patent No. 13,985, characterized by its rose pink flower colour, dark green leaves and trailing growth habit. The initial selection was made in May 2003, and the variety has been propagated asexually through vegetative cuttings since then.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for ‘Balazcoral' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring and summer of 2006, at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 10 cm pots on April 18, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 17 to 19, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balazcoral' with reference variety 'Balazpeach'

Leaf blade length (mm)

Main colour on upper side of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'Balazcoral' (left) with reference variety 'Balazpeach' (right)