Gaulbri1

Wintergreen

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Gaulsidh11'

Summary: The plants of 'Gaulbri1' have a medium degree of vigour whereas the plants of 'Gaulsidh11' have strong vigour. The leaf blade of 'Gaulbri1' is shorter than the leaf blade of 'Gaulsidh11'. The leaf of 'Gaulbri1' is variegated whereas the leaf of 'Gaulsidh11' is not variegated. The upper side of the new leaf of 'Gaulbri1' is medium brown to yellow brown with a blue pink to light blue pink margin whereas the new leaf of 'Gaulsidh11' is brown red. The upper side of the young leaf of 'Gaulbri1' is dark green changing to brown green with splotches of brown grey and a white margin with light blue pink tones whereas the young leaf of 'Gaulsidh11' is light to dark green with darker green tones and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At maturity, the upper side of the leaf of 'Gaulbri1' is brown green with splotches of green grey and a light yellow brown margin whereas the leaf of 'Gaulsidh11' is brown green. During winter, the upper side of the leaf of 'Gaulbri1' is dark brown with grey splotches and a white to dark pink red margin whereas the leaf of 'Gaulsidh11' is dark brown. In longitudinal section, the shape of the fruit of 'Gaulbri1' is oblate whereas the fruit of 'Gaulsidh11' is round.

Description:

PLANT: medium degree of vigour, spreading growth habit

STEM: medium green
CURRENT SEASON SHOOT: light to dark red

PETIOLE: present
LEAF: simple type
LEAF BLADE: elliptic and obovate shapes, cuspidate apex, cuneate base, weakly serrate margin, variegation present
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): medium brown to yellow brown (RHS 174A, 166B to RHS 164A) with blue pink to light blue pink (RHS 62A-B) margin when newly open, dark green (RHS 144A) changing to brown green (RHS 137A) with white (RHS N155B) margin having tones of light blue pink (RHS 62C-D) when young, young leaf may have brown grey (RHS 191B) splotches, brown green (RHS 138A) with light yellow brown (RHS 158A) margin and may have green grey (RHS N189C) splotches when mature, dark brown (RHS 200A) with white (RHS 155A) to dark pink red (RHS 51B) margin and may have grey (RHS 195A) splotches during winter

INFLORESCENCE: panicle type, 4 to 10 flowers
FLOWER: urceolate shape
COROLLA: white (RHS N155B), weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

FRUIT: oblate shape in longitudinal section
FRUIT SKIN: red pink (RHS 47D) when young, red (RHS 45B) when mature, strong glossiness
FRUIT FLESH: white (RHS 155B)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gaulbri1' was discovered and developed by Sidhu and Sons Nursery USA, Inc. in Elma, Washington, USA. It was discovered in a production block as a naturally occurring mutation of Gaultheria procumbens in Elma, Washington, in the spring of 2015. It was selected for its plant growth habit, and unique and stable variegated foliage. 'Gaulbri1' was first reproduced asexually by tissue culture in July 2015, in Elma, Washington, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Gaulbri1' was conducted in 2017 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 plants of the candidate variety and 8 plants of the reference variety. The plants were grown from tissue culture plantlets that were transplanted to 4.5 litre containers in 2015. The observations and measurements on the leaves and flowers were taken on 10 plants or 10 parts of plants for the candidate variety and 8 plants or 10 parts of 8 plants for the reference variety on July 3, 2017. The observations and measurements of the fruit were taken on October 11, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Gaulbri1' with reference variety 'Gaulsidh11'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

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Wintergreen: 'Gaulbri1' (left) with reference variety 'Gaulsid11' (right)

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Wintergreen: 'Gaulbri1' (left) with reference variety 'Gaulsid11' (right)