Verweig9

Weigela

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Prism Magic Carpet'

Summary: The plants of ‘Verweig9' are narrower than those of ‘Prism Magic Carpet'. The leaf blade of ‘Verweig9' is shorter than that of ‘Prism Magic Carpet'. The leaf blade margin of ‘Verweig9' has absent or very weak to weak undulation whereas that of ‘Prism Magic Carpet' has a medium degree of undulation. In summer, the main colour of the upper side of the leaf blade of ‘Verweig9' is dark brown purple whereas it is light green with orange brown and dark red at the margins and tip for that of Prism Magic Carpet'. The first flowering of ‘Verweig9' occurs early to mid-season while that of ‘Prism Magic Carpet' occurs very late.

Description:

PLANT: weak to medium vigour, erect growth habit

ONE-YEAR-OLD-SHOOT: light brown

LEAF BLADE: obovate shape, medium number of incisions of margin, absent or very weak to weak undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): green and reddish, medium to dark colour intensity, mainly dark brown purple (closest to RHS N186C) in summer, no variegation, weak to medium degree of blistering
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, dense pubescence on veins only

TIME OF FLOWERING: first full flowering occurs early to mid-season, short duration of first flowering, no second flowering occurs in autumn
INFLORESCENCE: simple panicle
FLOWER BUD: dark purple (RHS 58A)
COROLLA: single-coloured, funnel-shaped
COROLLA LOBE: inner side is medium purple (RHS 70B), rounded apex
COROLLA TUBE (OUTER SIDE): dark purple (RHS 58A)
SEPAL: medium density pubescence, green
OVARY: absent or very sparse pubescence
PISTIL: same length as corolla tube

Origin & Breeding History: ‘Verweig9' originated from a controlled cross between the female parent variety 'Verwof 1' and the proprietary seedling designated ‘Weigela bv 005' as the male parent in 2013 in Hazerswoude, Netherlands. A unique seedling of 'Verweig9' was selected in 2015 based on its compact plant growth habit, seasonal foliage colour and flower colour. 'Verweig9' was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in 2015 in Hazerswoude, Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘Verweig9' 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 variety. 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 July 23, 2024. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Verweig9' with reference variety 'Prism Magic Carpet'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade colour in summer (RHS)

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Weigela: 'Verweig9' (left) with reference variety 'Prism Magic Carpet' (right)

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Weigela: 'Verweig9' (left) with reference variety 'Prism Magic Carpet' (right)

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Weigela: 'Verweig9' (left) with reference variety 'Prism Magic Carpet' (right)