Pink Potion

Veronica

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Perfectly Picasso'

Summary: The plants of 'Pink Potion' are shorter than the plants of 'Perfectly Picasso'. 'Pink Potion' has a stem with weak to medium degree of anthocyanin colouration whereas 'Perfectly Picasso' has a stem with absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration. The plants of 'Pink Potion' flower early to mid-season whereas the plants of 'Perfectly Picasso' flower mid to late season. The inflorescences of 'Pink Potion' are located at the terminal and axillary position of the stem, while those of 'Perfectly Picasso' are located at the terminal position of the stem. The length of the flowering part of the inflorescence for 'Pink Potion' is shorter than the length of the flowering part of the inflorescence for 'Perfectly Picasso'.

Description:

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

PEDUNCLE: present, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak 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, located at terminal and axillary position of stem, erect attitude
COROLLA: salverform shape with four lobes, medium length and width
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, blue pink (RHS 67B/C) fading to light blue pink (RHS 68A/B)
COROLLA (OUTER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, blue pink (RHS 68B)
COROLLA LOBES: partially fused, weak undulation of margin

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pink Potion' originated from a cross monitored by Hans Hansen conducted in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The cross was made between the proprietary unreleased variety 'Purpleicious', as the female parent, and the variety 'Rotfuchs', as the male parent, on June 29, 2012. 'Pink Potion' was selected for its pink flowers with compact habit, and disease resistant foliage. Further propagation was done using stem cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Pink Potion' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2017 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of 'Pink Potion' and 15 plants of 'Perfectly Picasso' 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 'Pink Potion' with reference variety 'Perfectly Picasso'

Plant height (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

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Veronica: 'Pink Potion' (left) with reference variety 'Perfectly Picasso' (right)

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Veronica: 'Pink Potion' (left) with reference variety 'Perfectly Picasso' (right)