Balazmawite

Verbena

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Balazwhit' (Aztec White) and 'Sunmaririho' (Temari White)

Summary: 'Balazmawite' has smaller plants than 'Balazwhit' and 'Sunmaririho'. The incisions on the leaf blade margins are serrate in 'Balazmawite', whereas they are crenate in the reference varieties. The diameter of the corolla of 'Balazmawite' is smaller than in the reference varieties. The colour of the corolla of 'Balazmawite' intensifies to pale violet with age, whereas there is no change in the colour of the references.

Description:

PLANT: creeping, short, narrow to medium in width

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

LEAF: medium in length, medium in width
LEAF BLADE: ovate, cuneate to truncate base, lobed, serrate margin, dark green, no anthocyanin
PETIOLE: short to medium in length

INFLORESCENCE: medium in size, broad ovate in profile
CALYX: absence of anthocyanin
COROLLA: small to medium in diameter, one-coloured, even in colour, white weakly intensifying to pale purple with age
COROLLA LOBES: free to touching, incurved, weak undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: protruding hair white in colour
COROLLA EYE ZONE: present on three lobes, very small to small in diameter, green-yellow

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balazmawite' originated in January 2003, in Arroyo Grande, California, U.S.A. It was obtained by an irradiation induced mutation of verbena 'Balazsilma' (Aztec® Silver Magic), and is characterized by its white flower colour, leaf colour and prostrate spreading growth habit. The initial selection was made in 2003, and the variety has been propagated asexually through vegetative cuttings since then.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Balazmawite' 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 'Balazmawite' with reference varieties 'Balazwhit' and 'Sunmaririho'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (mm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Petiole length (mm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Corolla diameter (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'Balazmawite' (left) with reference varieties 'Balazwhit' (centre) and 'Sunmaririho' (right)