SMNWFBGV

Weigela

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Kolmagira' (Rainbow Sensation) and 'SMNWFMS' (Midnight Wine Shine)

Summary: The plants of ‘SMNWFBGV' are larger than those of both reference varieties. The leaf blade of ‘SMNWFBGV' is larger than that of ‘Kolmagira'. The upper side of the leaf blade of ‘SMNWFBGV' is green and reddish while that of ‘Kolmagira' is yellow and green and that of 'SMNWFMS' is reddish. In summer, the main colour of the upper side of the leaf blades at the top of the shoot of ‘SMNWFBGV' is dark brown green with dark brown along the margin while that of ‘Kolmagira' is medium green with light green towards the margin and that of 'SMNWFMS' is dark brown with no variegation. The first flowering of ‘SMNWFBGV' occurs mid to late season while that of 'Kolmagira' occurs early.

Description:

PLANT: strong vigour, erect to spreading growth habit

ONE-YEAR-OLD-SHOOT: light brown

LEAF BLADE: elliptic to obovate shape, many incisions of margin, weak undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): green and reddish, medium to dark colour intensity, variegation present along margin, weak blistering
LEAVES ON UPPER PART OF SHOOT (UPPER SIDE): mainly dark brown green (RHS 146A) with dark brown (RHS 200A) along margin in summer
LEAVES ON LOWER PART OF SHOOT (UPPER SIDE): mainly dark brown green (RHS 146A) with grey brown (closest to RHS N199A) along margin in summer, more green on leaves at base of shoot
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium density pubescence on veins and midrib only

TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs mid to late season, short duration of first flowering, no second flowering occurs in autumn
INFLORESCENCE: simple panicle
FLOWER BUD: dark blue pink (closest to RHS 186C)
COROLLA: single-coloured, funnel-shaped
COROLLA LOBE: inner side is dark blue pink (closest to RHS 186C), rounded apex
COROLLA TUBE: sparse density pubescence, green
SEPAL: sparse density pubescence, red
OVARY: absent or very sparse pubescence
PISTIL: same length or shorter than corolla tube

Origin & Breeding History: ‘SMNWFBGV' was discovered as a naturally occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary seedling selected from the progeny of a cross between ‘Olympiade' and ‘Naomi Campbell' in the summer of 2013 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA. ‘SMNWFBGV' was selected based on its plant growth habit, branching density and variegated foliage. ‘SMNWFBGV' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in 2016 in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘SMNWFBGV' was conducted in an outdoor trial during the spring and summer of 2024 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. Plants were grown from 10 cm rooted liners and planted into 7.6 litre pots in August 2023. The plants were overwintered in a polyhouse and moved outdoors in May 2024 to a drip irrigated field area and arranged in rows with plants spaced approximately 1 meter apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on September 9, 2024. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNWFBGV' with reference varieties 'Kolmagira' and 'SMNWFMS'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blades at the top of the shoot in summer (RHS

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Weigela: 'SMNWFBGV' (left) with reference varieties 'Kolmagira' (center) and 'SMNWFMS' (right)

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Weigela: 'SMNWFBGV' (left) with reference varieties 'Kolmagira' (center) and 'SMNWFMS' (right)