WFMOBLA

Weigela

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'SMNWFMS' (Midnight Shine)

Summary: The shoots on the plants of 'WFMOBLA' are shorter than the shoots of 'SMNWFMS'. The plants of 'WFMOBLA' have many flowers while those of 'SMNWFMS' have a medium number of flowers. The leaf blade of 'WFMOBLA' is smaller than that of 'SMNWFMS'. When newly opened in the spring, the upper side of the outer leaves of 'WFMOBLA' is black to brown purple while the upper side of the outer leaves of 'SMNWFMS' is black. When newly opened in the spring, the lower side of the outer leaves of 'WFMOBLA' is brown purple with dark green to light green tones while the lower side of the outer leaves of 'SMNWFMS' is brown purple with brown green tones. When fully opened in the spring, the leaf of 'WFMOBLA' is black to brown purple with dark green tones while the leaf of 'SMNWFMS' is black. The outer side of the corolla tube of 'WFMOBLA' is dark pink red while that of 'SMNWFMS' is dark purple red. The corolla of 'WFMOBLA' is shorter than that of 'SMNWFMS'. The ovary of 'WFMOBLA' is shorter than that of 'SMNWFMS'.

Description:

PLANT: medium vigour, erect to spreading growth habit, many flowers
YOUNG SHOOT: deep purple
ONE-YEAR-OLD-SHOOT: light brown (tan)

LEAF BLADE: elliptic and obovate shaped, medium number of incisions along margin, absent or very weak undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): outer leaves have a dark intensity of black to brown purple (RHS N186B-C) with some green tones when newly open in spring, a dark intensity of black to brown purple (RHS N186B-C) with dark green (RHS 144A) tones towards leaf base when fully open in spring, brown purple (RHS 187A) with green tones towards the leaf base in late summer, brown green (closer to RHS 147A-B) within the canopy, no variegation, weak degree of blistering
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): outer leaves are brown purple (RHS 183A-B) with dark green to light green (RHS 144A-B) tones, medium pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: solitary, in pairs and small clusters
BUD: dark purple red (RHS 53A-B)
COROLLA: single-coloured, inner side is purple red (RHS N57C-D), funnel-shaped
COROLLA LOBE: rounded apex
COROLLA TUBE: outer side is dark pink red (RHS 53C-D)
SEPAL: medium pubescence, red
OVARY: sparse pubescence
PISTIL: longer than corolla, same length as sepal
TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs early in the season, medium length duration of first flowering, second flowering was not observed in autumn

Origin & Breeding History: 'WFMOBLA' was bred and developed by the breeder, Timothy D. Wood, an employee of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. It originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in May 2009, between 'Verweig', as the female parent, and pollen from an unknown male parent. In June 2011, 'WFMOBLA' was selected for its hardiness, plant growth habit, leaf colour and leaf appearance. 'WFMOBLA' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings, in June 2011, in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'WFMOBLA' was conducted in an outdoor irrigated container trial during the spring and summer of 2016 at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. Plants were overwintered in 2015 and 2016 in an above zero polyhouse and moved outdoors in May 2016. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 7.5 liter containers on July 16, 2016. The observations and measurements of flower and spring characteristics were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on May 6, 2016 while plant and leaf characteristics were taken on July 8, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'WFMOBLA' with reference variety 'SMNWFMS'

Shoot length, in summer (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of newly open leaves, in spring (RHS)

Coulor of fully expanded leaves, in spring (RHS)

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Weigela: 'WFMOBLA' (left) with reference variety 'SMNWFMS' (right)

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Weigela: 'WFMOBLA' (left) with reference variety 'SMNWFMS' (right)

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Weigela: 'WFMOBLA' (left) with reference variety 'SMNWFMS' (right)