Bailoptics

Buttonbush

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'J.N. Select A' (Ping Pong)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'Bailoptics' is larger than that of 'J.N. Select A'. The leaf blade of 'Bailoptics' has weak waviness of the margin whereas that of 'J.N. Select A' has waviness which ranges from medium to strong. The petiole of 'Bailoptics' has anthocyanin colouration ranging from absent or very weak to weak whereas the petiole of 'J.N. Select A' has medium to strong anthocyanin colouration. The flower bud of 'Bailoptics' has absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration whereas the flower bud of 'J.N. Select A' has strong anthocyanin colouration.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, globose shape, bushy growth habit, branching ranging from medium to dense, fast growth rate
STEM: brown red (RHS 181A), medium thickness, absent or very sparse pubescence, round in cross-section, fissured bark, absent or very weak glaucosity, medium number of lenticels

LEAF: simple type, opposite arrangement on the stem
LEAF BLADE: ovate to elliptic, acute to acuminate apex, rounded base, entire margin, no lobing, no variegation, medium rugosity, glossiness ranging from medium to strong, weak undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, brown green (RHS N137A) at mid-season, no anthocyanin colouration on veins
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, brown green (RHS 147B) at mid-season
PETIOLE: present, anthocyanin colouration ranging from absent or very weak to weak

FLOWER BUD: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, light green (RHS 144C, 145D)
INFLORESCENCE: capitate type
COROLLA: tubular, white (RHS NN155A) outer surface, medium fragrance
FRUIT: cluster of achenes

Origin & Breeding History: 'Bailoptics' originated as a seedling growing in a block of seeds planted from unnamed plants of Cephalanthus occidentalis. The seedling was discovered and developed by the breeder Jon Burns, in 2005 in Hastings, Minnesota, USA. The new variety 'Bailoptics' was selected in 2005 based on its growth habit and stem colour on new growth. Asexual reproduction of 'Bailoptics' was first conducted by stem cuttings in June 2006, in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Bailoptics' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2018, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into containers in the spring 2017. Trials were arranged outdoors in rows with 1 meter spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 4, 2018. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Bailoptics' with reference variety 'J.N. Select A'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

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Buttonbush: 'Bailoptics' (left) with reference variety 'J.N. Select A' (right)

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Buttonbush: 'Bailoptics' (left) with reference variety 'J.N. Select A' (right)

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Buttonbush: 'Bailoptics' (left) with reference variety 'J.N. Select A' (right)