Carlton

Weigela

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Rubidor'

Summary: The flowering shoots of 'Carlton' are longer than those of 'Rubidor'. 'Carlton' differs from 'Rubidor' in the colour of the upper and lower sides of the leaves in the spring and the lower side of the leaves in the summer. During one growing season, 'Carlton' has more than one flowering period, whereas 'Rubidor' flowers only once. The sepals of 'Carlton' have medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'Rubidor' have anthocyanin ranging from strong to very strong. The corolla of 'Carlton' is longer than that of 'Rubidor'.

Description:

PLANT: deciduous, upright bushy growth habit, medium foliage density
STEM: grey-brown, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak pubescence

LEAVES: opposite arrangement, simple type, elliptic and obovate, acuminate apex, cuneate base, serrate margin, petiole present
UPPER SIDE OF LEAF BLADE: weak glossiness, absent or very weak pubescence, anthocyanin colouration present along margins, light green (RHS 144B) in spring, brown green (RHS 138A-B) with strong yellow green (RHS 154C) venation in summer
LOWER SIDE OF LEAF BLADE: weak pubescence, brown green (RHS 146C-D) in spring, light green (RHS 145C) with brown green (RHS N138B) between veins in summer

FLOWERING: early, more than once, corymb formation
SEPAL: medium intensity anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: tubular, located in both terminal and axillary position
COROLLA: purple red (RHS 60D) fading to blue pink (RHS 64D) with age on upper side of petals
COROLLA TUBE: dark purple red (53A) on outer surface
PEDICEL: anthocyanin colouration ranges from weak to medium intensity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Carlton' originated from an open pollination cross conducted by the breeder Timothy D. Wood during the summer of 2003, in Grand Haven, Michigan, United States, between the female parent 'Rubidor' and an unknown male parent. In 2004, the new variety was selected from the progeny as a single seedling based on flower colour, seasonal changes in leaf colour and repeat blooming in the late summer. 'Carlton' was first propagated by softwood cuttings in 2004, in Grand Haven, Michigan, United States.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Carlton' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2009 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and 10 plants of the reference variety. Plants were grown from 10 cm rooted liners that were transplanted into 7.5 litre containers on June 3, 2007, and repotted into 11 litre containers on June 2, 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on May 17, 2009. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Carlton' with reference variety 'Rubidor'

Flowering shoot length (cm)

Colour of leaf blade (RHS)

Corolla length (mm)

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Weigela: 'Carlton' (left) with reference variety 'Rubidor' (right)

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Weigela: 'Carlton' (left) with reference variety 'Rubidor' (right)

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Weigela: 'Carlton' (left) with reference variety 'Rubidor' (right)