Velda

Weigela

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Alexandra' (Wine & Roses) and 'Bristol Snowflake'

Summary: The plants of 'Velda' are of medium vigour while those of both reference varieties are of strong vigour. The plants of 'Velda' are shorter than those of 'Alexandra'. The leaf blade of 'Velda' is wider than the leaf blade of 'Alexandra'. The leaf blade of 'Velda' has very weak undulation along the margin while that of 'Bristol Snowflake' has a medium degree of undulation along the margin. In cross-section, the leaf of 'Velda' is weakly concave to flat while that of 'Bristol Snowflake' is strongly concave. The intensity of green colouration on the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Velda' is dark while it is of medium intensity for 'Bristol Snowflake'. The intensity of red colouration on the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Velda' is weak while the intensity is medium to strong for 'Alexandra' and absent or very weak for 'Bristol Snowflake'. When newly open, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Velda' is black with dark green veins while it is black for 'Alexandra' and brown green for 'Bristol Snowflake'. The inner side of the corolla of 'Velda' is white with yellow green blush and veins while the corolla is purple for 'Alexandra' and white with light blue pink along the margin for 'Bristol Snowflake'. The corolla of 'Velda' is larger in diameter than the corolla of 'Alexandra' but smaller in diameter than that of 'Bristol Snowflake'. The sepal of 'Velda' has medium density pubescence while that of the reference varieties have absent or very sparse pubescence. The full flowering of the plants of 'Velda' occurs very early in the season while the plants of both reference varieties flower early.

Description:

PLANT: medium vigour, erect growth habit
ONE-YEAR-OLD-SHOOT: light brown

LEAF BLADE: elliptic shape, medium to many incisions along margin, very weak undulation of margin, weakly concave to flat in cross-section
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): black (RHS N186A) with dark green (RHS 144A) veins when newly open in spring, brown green (darker than RHS 147A) with a weak intensity of red colouration when mature in summer, no variegation, weak to medium degree of blistering
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): brown green (closest to RHS 138A) with black to grey (RHS N187A-B) along margin when mature in summer, medium density pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: compound panicle
COROLLA: single-coloured, inner side is white (RHS 155A) with yellow green (RHS 1D) blush and veins, funnel-shaped
COROLLA LOBE: rounded apex
SEPAL: medium density pubescence, mostly green with some red
OVARY: absent or very sparse pubescence
PISTIL: longer than corolla
TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs very early in the season, long duration of first flowering, second flowering occurs in autumn

Origin & Breeding History: 'Velda' originated from a controlled cross conducted by the breeder, Gijsbertus Verhoef, in Hazerswoude, the Netherlands in late spring 2008. The cross was made between the female parent Weigela variety 'Milk and Honey', and the male parent Weigela florida variety 'Alexandra'. From the resulting progeny, 'Velda' was selected during the spring of 2010 based on its compact plant growth habit, purplish black foliage and white flower colour. 'Velda' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in June 2010 in Hazerswoude, the Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Velda' was conducted outdoors during the spring and summer of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and 10 plants of the reference varieties. All plants were grown from 6 cm rooted liners that were each planted into a 7.5 litre container during the spring of 2014. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety. Flower characteristics were measured and observed in a polyhouse on April 28, 2015. Plant and leaf characteristics were measured and observed on June 22, 2015 after plants were moved to an outdoor irrigated location where pots were arranged in rows with approximately 1 metre spacing between plants. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Velda' with reference varieties 'Alexandra' and 'Bristol Snowflake'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Corolla diameter (cm)

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Weigela: 'Velda' (left) with reference varieties 'Alexandra' (centre) and 'Bristol Snowflake' (right)

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Weigela: 'Velda' (left) with reference varieties 'Alexandra' (centre) and 'Bristol Snowflake' (right)

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Weigela: 'Velda' (left) with reference varieties 'Alexandra' (centre) and 'Bristol Snowflake' (right)