Enchanted Indigo

Veronica

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sunny Border Blue'

Summary: The plants of 'Enchanted Indigo' are shorter than those of 'Sunny Border Blue'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the stem of 'Enchanted Indigo' is absent to very weak while it is of medium intensity along the stem of 'Sunny Border Blue'. The leaf of 'Enchanted Indigo' is narrower than that of 'Sunny Border Blue'. The leaf of 'Enchanted Indigo' is elliptic to lanceolate in shape while that of 'Sunny Border Blue' is ovate. The inflorescence of 'Enchanted Indigo' is longer than that of 'Sunny Border Blue'. The inner side of the lobe on the flower of 'Enchanted Indigo' is violet blue while the lobe of 'Sunny Border Blue' is lighter violet blue.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated perennial, upright-bushy growth habit, medium degree of branching
STEM: medium green, medium thickness, absent or very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak glaucosity, smooth

LEAF: opposite arrangement, simple type, petiole present
LEAF BLADE: elliptic to lanceolate shape, acute apex, attenuate base, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, weak glaucosity on upper side, brown green (RHS 137C) on upper side, medium green on lower side, no variegation, serrate margin

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
FLOWERING PERIOD: flowers early to mid-season, long, almost continuous flowering
INFLORESCENCE: spike type, located at terminal position
FLOWER: partially fused arrangement of lobes, salverform shape, four lobes per flower, weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner side
LOBE (INNER SIDE): violet blue (RHS 93A) to brighter, darker violet blue (RHS N89B)
LOBE (OUTER SIDE): violet blue (RHS 93A-B)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Enchanted Indigo' originated as a chance seedling found in production fields, exposed to random bee pollination, at Walter Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA in the summer of 2009. The new variety 'Enchanted Indigo' was initially selected due to its compact growth habit, dark purple flowers and long flowering period. It was selected for further evaluation later that summer.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Enchanted Indigo' was conducted in a shadehouse during the summer of 2015 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown in 23 cm pots spaced 45 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety the week of August 24, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Enchanted Indigo' with reference variety 'Sunny Border Blue'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (mm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Colour of lobe (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Veronica: 'Enchanted Indigo' (left) with reference variety 'Sunny Border Blue' (right)