SMVDBL

Viburnum

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Synnestvedt' (Chicago Lustre) and 'SMVDLS' (All That Glitters)

Summary: The overall plant shape of 'SMVDBL' is ovoid whereas it is oblate for 'Synnestvedt' and obovoid for 'SMVDLS'. The natural plant height and width of 'SMVDBL' are smaller than those of 'Synnestvedt' and larger than those of 'SMVDLS'. 'SMVDBL' has more leaf nodes per flowering stem than both reference varieties. The leaf blade of 'SMVDBL' is longer than that of 'Synnestvedt' and shorter than that of 'SMVDLS'. The leaf blade of 'SMVDBL' is narrower than that of both reference varieties. The petiole of 'SMVDBL' is shorter than that of both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, ovoid shape, upright to bushy growth habit, dense branching
SHOOT: light brown to red brown, medium thickness, absent to very sparse pubescence, round in cross-section, no glaucosity, few lenticels, no thorns or spines

LEAF: simple type, opposite arrangement on stem, weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on new leaves in spring, weak anthocyanin colouration of petiole
LEAF BLADE: ovate shape, acute apex, cordate base, margin crenate with mucronate tip, no lobing, no variegation, medium to strong rugosity, weak waviness of margin
UPPER SURFACE: medium density of pubescence, strong glossiness, medium green
LOWER SURFACE: sparse pubescence, medium green, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on veins

INFLORESCENCE: compound cyme
FLOWER BUD: medium size, light green to yellow, rounded shape, rounded apex, medium density of pubescence
COROLLA: salverform, white (RHS 155A) on inner and outer sides, absent or very weak fragrance

FRUIT: drupe type, blue to black

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMVDBL' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, at Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from an open pollination that occurred in the summer of 2007 between an unnamed seedling of Viburnum dentatum var. deamii as the female parent and an unnamed seedling as the male parent. 'SMVDBL' was selected from the resulting progeny in the spring of 2009 based on its plant growth habit, glossy foliage, attractive dense flower heads, attractive fruit and good production characteristics. Vegetative reproduction of 'SMVDBL' was first conducted by softwood cuttings in June of 2009 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'SMVDBL' was conducted as an outdoor container trial in the spring of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 10 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 13 litre containers in 2013. The plants were overwintered in a polyhouse for two winters. The trial was arranged in rows outdoors with 1 metre spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on June 8-9, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMVDBL' with reference varieties 'Synnestvedt' and 'SMVDLS'

Natural plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Number of leaf nodes per flowering stem

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Viburnum: 'SMVDBL' (left) with reference varieties 'Synnestvedt' (centre) and 'SMVDLS' (right)

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Viburnum: 'SMVDBL' (left) with reference varieties 'Synnestvedt' (centre) and 'SMVDLS' (right)