ZR1

Weigela

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Elvera' (Midnight Wine) and 'Spring2' (Bloomin' Easy Stunner)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'ZR1' is shorter than the leaf blade of 'Elvera', longer than that of 'Spring2' and narrower than both reference varieties. The intensity of colouration on the upper side of the leaf blade of 'ZR1' is dark whereas it is of medium intensity for 'Elvera'. The leaf blade of 'ZR1' has a medium degree of glossiness whereas the glossiness on the leaf blade is weak for 'Elvera' and strong for 'Spring2'. The outer side of the flower bud of 'ZR1' is dark purple red whereas the flower bud of 'Elvera' is a darker purple red. The corolla of 'ZR1' is smaller in diameter than that of the reference varieties. The inner side of the corolla of 'ZR1' is purple whereas that of 'Elvera' and 'Spring2' are blue pink. The corolla tube of 'ZR1' is shorter than that of the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: medium vigour, erect to spreading growth habit

ONE-YEAR-OLD-SHOOT: light brown
SHOOT: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration in early spring

LEAF BLADE: obovate shape, medium to many incisions on margin, absent or very weak undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): dark brown (closest to RHS 200A) when newly opened in spring, dark intensity of colouration, no variegation, weak blistering, medium degree of glossiness
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): sparse to medium density of pubescence along midrib and secondary veins

INFLORESCENCE: simple panicle
FLOWER BUD: dark purple red (RHS 185A)
COROLLA: single-coloured, funnel-shaped
COROLLA LOBE: inner side is purple (RHS 58A), rounded apex
COROLLA TUBE: outer side is dark purple red (RHS 53A)
SEPAL: absent or very sparse pubescence, green and red
OVARY: absent or very sparse pubescence
PISTIL: same length as corolla
TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs early in the season, short to medium duration of first flowering, second flowering occurs in autumn

Origin & Breeding History: 'ZR1' originated from an open pollinated cross conducted by the breeder, Gijsbertus Verhoef, in Hazerswoude, the Netherlands in late spring 2006. The cross was made between the female parent Weigela florida variety 'Tango', and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'ZR1' was selected as a single plant in July 2008 based on its compact plant growth habit, a dark purple-black summer foliage, flower colour, the number of flowers and reblooming performance. 'ZR1' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in June of 2009 in Hazerswoude, the Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'ZR1' was conducted outdoors during the spring and summer of 2020 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 plants of the candidate variety and reference varieties. All plants were grown from 6 cm rooted liners that were each planted into a 7.5 litre container on June 28, 2019. The plants were overwintered in a polyhouse and moved outdoors in late May of 2020 to a drip irrigated field where they were arranged in rows with approximately 1 metre spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on April 15, 2020. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'ZR1' with reference varieties 'Elvera' and 'Spring2'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of flower bud (RHS)

Corolla diameter (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Corolla tube length (cm)

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Weigela: 'ZR1' (left) with reference varieties 'Elvera' (centre) and 'Spring2' (right)

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Weigela: 'ZR1' (left) with reference variety 'Elvera' (right)

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Weigela: 'ZR1' (left) with reference variety 'Elvera' (right)