SLINGCO 2

Weigela

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Red Prince'

Summary: The plants of 'SLINGCO 2' are of medium vigour while those of 'Red Prince' are of strong vigour. The leaf blade of 'SLINGCO 2' is elliptic with weak to medium undulation along the margin whereas the leaf blade of 'Red Prince' is obovate with strong undulation along the margin. The leaf blade of 'SLINGCO 2' is wider than that of 'Red Prince'. When newly open, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'SLINGCO 2' is brown green with medium brown along the margin while it is darker brown green for 'Red Prince'. The inner side of the corolla of 'SLINGCO 2' is dark purple red with darker purple red tones while the corolla of 'Red Prince' is lighter purple red to dark pink red. The corolla of 'SLINGCO 2' is shorter than that of 'Red Prince'. The sepal of 'SLINGCO 2' has sparse pubescence while that of 'Red Prince' has medium density pubescence.

Description:

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

LEAF BLADE: elliptic shaped, medium to many incisions along margin, weak to medium undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): brown green (closest to RHS 146A-B) with medium brown (RHS 176A-B) along margin when newly open in spring, brown green (closest to RHS 137A-B) with an absent or very weak intensity of red colouration when mature in summer, no variegation, weak degree of blistering
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): brown green to light green (closest to RHS 138B-C) with brown green (closest to RHS 137B-C) veins when mature in summer, sparse pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: compound panicle
COROLLA: single-coloured, inner side is dark purple red (darker than RHS 46A) with darker purple red (RHS 185A) tones, funnel-shaped
COROLLA LOBE: rounded apex
SEPAL: sparse pubescence, green and red
OVARY: absent or very sparse pubescence
PISTIL: longer than corolla, shorter than sepal
TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs early to mid-season, medium length duration of first flowering, second flowering occurs in autumn

Origin & Breeding History: 'SLINGCO 2' originated from an open pollinated cross conducted by the breeder, Gijsbertus Verhoef, in Hazerswoude, the Netherlands in late spring 2008. The cross was made between the female parent 'Red Prince' and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'SLINGCO 2' was selected during the summer of 2010 based on its compact plant growth habit, dark velvet red flower colour and continuous flowering throughout the summer. 'SLINGCO 2' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings during the summer of 2011 in Hazerswoude, the Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SLINGCO 2' 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 variety. 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 'SLINGCO 2' with reference variety 'Red Prince'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Corolla length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Weigela: 'SLINGCO 2' (left) with reference variety 'Red Prince' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Weigela: 'SLINGCO 2' (left) with reference variety 'Red Prince' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Weigela: 'SLINGCO 2' (left) with reference variety 'Red Prince' (right)