Balazvio

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balazdapi' (Wildfire Dark Purple)

Summary: 'Balazvio' is a verbena variety which has a semi-upright growth habit and narrow to medium width plants, whereas the reference variety 'Balazdapi' has a creeping habit and broad plants. The leaf blade of 'Balazvio' has a cuneate base and dentate margin incisions, compared with the leaf blade of 'Balazdapi' which has a truncate base and crenate incisions. The inflorescence of 'Balazvio' is smaller in diameter than that of the reference variety. The main colour of the upper side of the corolla of 'Balazvio' is a deeper purple violet colour than the corolla of 'Balazdapi'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright habit, medium height, narrow to medium width
STEM: dense pubescence, medium green, absent or very weak anthocyanin

LEAF BLADE: long, medium width, ovate shape, cuneate base, dentate margins, medium green on upper side, no anthocyanin
PETIOLE: medium length

INFLORESCENCE: medium to large diameter, broad ovate shape in profile
CALYX: no anthocyanin
COROLLA: large diameter, one colour, dark violet, weakly fading with age
COROLLA LOBES: touching, incurved, medium undulation of margin, lighter colour towards base
COROLLA TUBE: protruding light green hair
COROLLA EYE ZONE: present on three lobes, medium to large diameter, whitish green

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balazvio' originated from a controlled breeding program on February 1, 2003, at Arroyo Grande, California. The female parent was the proprietary verbena selection designated BFP-2256, characterized by its lavender flower colour, medium green leaf colour, and semi-trailing growth habit. The male parent was the verbena 'Lan Roypur' (Lanai™ Royal Purple), characterized by its dark purple flower colour, dark green leaves and mounded, trailing growth habit. The initial selection was made on May 19, 2003. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Balazvio' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring/summer of 2006 at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials consisted of a total of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 11 cm pots on April 18, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on June 17-22, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balazvio' with reference variety 'Balazdapi'

Plant width (cm)

Diameter of inflorescence (cm)

Main colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'Balazvio' (left) with reference variety 'Balazdapi' (right)