VUKOZLyra

Weigela

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Bokrasopin' (Sonic Bloom Pink)

Summary: The plants of 'VUKOZLyra' have dense branching and are shorter than those of 'Bokrasopin', which have medium density branching. The leaf blade of 'VUKOZLyra' is obovate and narrower than the leaf blade of 'Bokrasopin', which is ovate and elliptic. The intensity of colouration on the upper side of the leaf blade of 'VUKOZLyra' is dark whereas it is of medium intensity for 'Bokrasopin'. On the lower side of the leaf blade, the pubescence is very dense on the midrib and dense along the secondary veins of 'VUKOZLyra' whereas the pubescence is sparse to medium along the midrib and of medium density along the secondary veins for 'Bokrasopin'. The leaf blade of 'VUKOZLyra' has a weak degree of glossiness whereas the glossiness on the leaf blade is medium to strong for 'Bokrasopin'. The outer side of the flower bud of 'VUKOZLyra' is dark purple red whereas that of 'Bokrasopin' is purple brown. The inner side of the corolla of 'VUKOZLyra' is purple with purple red tones fading to blue pink with age whereas that of 'Bokrasopin' is purple with purple red tones. The corolla diameter of 'VUKOZLyra' is smaller than that of 'Bokrasopin'. The outer side of the corolla tube of 'VUKOZLyra' is purple and blue pink whereas that of 'Bokrasopin' is dark purple red. The corolla tube of 'VUKOZLyra' is shorter than that of 'Bokrasopin'.

Description:

PLANT: medium vigour, erect growth habit, dense branching

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

LEAF BLADE: obovate shape, many incisions on margin, weak to medium undulation of margin when newly opened, absent or very weak undulation of margin when fully opened, no variegation, weak to medium degree of blistering
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): dark intensity of green colour, brown green (RHS N137A) when fully opened in summer, medium degree of glossiness when newly opened, weak glossiness when fully opened
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): very dense pubescence along midrib, dense pubescence along secondary veins

INFLORESCENCE: simple type
FLOWER BUD: dark purple red (RHS 59A-B)
SEPAL: sparse to medium density of pubescence, red with green at base
COROLLA: single-coloured, campanulate shape
COROLLA LOBE: inner side is purple and purple red (RHS 59C-D) fading to blue pink (RHS 63C) tones with age, rounded apex
COROLLA TUBE: outer side is purple (RHS 59C) and blue pink (RHS 63C)
PISTIL: longer than corolla
OVARY: sparse to medium pubescence
TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs very early in the season, medium duration of first flowering, no second flowering in autumn

Origin & Breeding History: 'VUKOZLyra' originated from a controlled cross conducted by the breeder, Vojtech Benetka, in Pruhonice, Czech Republic in 1992. The cross was made between a proprietary plant designated 89-1-37 and the male parent 'Eva Supreme'. From the resulting progeny, 'VUKOZLyra' was selected as a single plant in the summer of 1996 based on its dwarf growth habit, pink flower colour and reblooming performance. 'VUKOLyra' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in the summer of 1996 in Pruhonice, Czech Republic.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'VUKOZLyra' was conducted as an outdoor trial during the spring and summer of 2020 at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. The plants were grown from 10 cm long rooted liners and planted into 7.5 litre containers on August 6, 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. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or 10 parts of plants of each variety on April 24, 2020. The colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'VUKOZLyra' with reference variety 'Bokrasopin'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of flower bud (RHS)

Corolla diameter (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

Corolla tube length (cm)

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Weigela: 'VUKOZLyra' (left) with reference variety 'Bokrasopin' (right)

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Weigela: 'VUKOZLyra' (left) with reference variety 'Bokrasopin' (right)

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Weigela: 'VUKOZLyra' (left) with reference variety 'Bokrasopin' (right)