Flagdena

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'AKIV344-01' (Superbena Pink Parfait)

Summary: The plants of 'Flagdena' are narrower than the plants of 'AKIV344-01'. The leaf blade of 'Flagdena' is narrower than the leaf blade of 'AKIV344-01'. The margin of the leaf is dentate for 'Flagdena' while it is crenate for 'AKIV344-01'. The inflorescence of 'Flagdena' is smaller in diameter than the inflorescence of 'AKIV344-01'. The hairs at the edge of the corolla tube have a white tip for 'Flagdena' while they are purple for 'AKIV344-01'. The lower corolla lobes of 'Flagdena' are white and upper corolla lobes are purple red streaked with white while the upper and lower corolla lobes of 'AKIV344-01' are violet with blue pink at the base.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit
STEM: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on middle third

LEAF: lanceolate and ovate, no divisions, dentate margin incisions, upper side medium green with no anthocyanin colouration

INFLORESCENCE: broad ovate in profile
CAYLX: no anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA TUBE: hairs white at tip
COROLLA LOBES: not touching, longitudinal axis incurved, weak margin undulation, two colours on upper side, secondary colour located on upper two petals, colour lighter towards base of lobes on lower petals only, upper side white (RHS NN155D) when newly opened with purple red (RHS 58C) at margin, white (RHS NN155D) when fully open, secondary colour purple red (RHS 58B) when corolla newly opened streaked with white (RHS NN155D), lighter purple red (RHS 58C) streaked with white (RHS NN155D) when corolla fully opened, colour weakly fading with age
COROLLA EYE: small, white.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Flagdena' originated from an open pollinated cross made in Enkhuizen, Netherlands in the summer of 2004. The female parent was a proprietary seedling designated G0549-1, characterized by white flowers. The male parent was unknown. The resultant seed was collected and sown in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen in February 2005. A single plant was selected from the progeny in August 2005, based on criteria for novel flower colour, good branching and early flowering characteristics.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Flagdena' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2011, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm shallow pots on May 2, 2011. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 21, 2011. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Flagdena' with reference variety 'AKIV344-01'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Colour of upper side of corolla (RHS)

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Verbena: 'Flagdena' (left) with reference variety 'AKIV344-01' (right)

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Verbena: 'Flagdena' (left) with reference variety 'AKIV344-01' (right)