White Wands

Veronica

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Icicle'

Summary: The plants of 'White Wands' are taller than the plants of 'Icicle'. 'White Wands' has a narrow upright growth habit whereas 'Icicle' has an irregular growth habit. The plants of 'White Wands' flower early to mid-season whereas the plants of 'Icicle' flower mid to late season. The leaf blade of 'White Wands' is smaller than the leaf blade of 'Icicle'. 'White Wands' has medium green leaves and 'Icicle' has dark green leaves.

Description:

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

PEDUNCLE: present, absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
PETIOLE: present
LEAF BLADE: opposite arrangement along stem, no variegation, simple type, elliptic to lanceolate shape, acute shaped apex, attenuate shaped base, serrate margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, weak glaucosity, medium green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium green

FLOWERING PERIOD: begins early to mid-season, almost continuous, long duration
INFLORESCENCE: spike type, terminal and axillary position of stem, erect attitude
COROLLA: salverform shape with four lobes, short to medium length, small width
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, white (RHS NN155D)
COROLLA (OUTER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, white (RHS NN155D)
COROLLA LOBES: partially fused, weak undulation of margin

Origin & Breeding History: 'White Wands' originated from a cross made by Kevin Hurd in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The cross was made between the Veronica alpina variety 'Alba', as the female parent, and the Veronica spicata variety 'White', as the male parent, in the summer of 2009. 'White Wands' was selected for its upright growth habit, well-branched scapes producing continuous heavy flower show, freely flowering requiring no vernalisation, and bright green lanceolate leafs without premature leaf drop. Further propagation was done using stem cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'White Wands' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2017 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of 'White Wands' and 12 plants of 'Icicle' with each plant being grown in 16 cm diameter pots spaced 45 cm apart. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart. Mean differences are significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'White Wands' with reference variety 'Icicle'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

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Veronica: 'White Wands' (left) with reference variety 'Icicle' (right)