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Balhiblu

Hibiscus

Denomination: 'Balhiblu'
Trade name: Luna Blush
Botanical Name: Hibiscus moscheutos
Applicant/Holder: Ball Horticultural Company
622 Town Road
West Chicago, Illinois
60185
United States of America
Breeder: Ball Horticultural Company, West Chicago, United States of America
Agent in Canada: BioFlora Inc.
38723 Fingal Line
R.R. #1
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5P 3S5
Canada
Tel: 519-317-7511
Application Date: 2003-05-21
Application Number: 03-3685
Grant of Rights Date: 2006-12-29
Certificate Number: 2660
Date rights surrendered: 2008-01-22

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Disco Belle Pink'

Summary: 'Balhiblu' is a hibiscus variety that has flowers which are smaller in diameter than the flowers of the reference variety 'Disco Belle Pink'. The petals of 'Balhiblu' are shorter than those of 'Disco Belle Pink'. Both varieties have a white main colour on the upper side of the petals but the secondary colour of 'Balhiblu' is a lighter pink than 'Disco Belle Pink'.

Description:

'Balhiblu' is a hibiscus variety which has upright plants with sparse to moderate branching. The stems are light green, with no anthocyanin colouration, and very weak or no pubescence. The primary branch is thick and the secondary branches are medium in thickness. 'Balhiblu' has simple leaves which are medium green in colour, with very short, moderately dense pubescence on the blade. The leaf is ovate in shape, with an obtuse to cordate base and acuminate apex. The leaf margin has shallow serrate incisions and is weakly undulating. There is no lobe development on the leaf blades.

'Balhiblu' has single, bicoloured flowers which are open for one day. The petals are moderately overlapping and are fan shaped. The upper side of each petal is creamy white with pink at the petal margins. There is a large, red basal spot. The petal margins are weakly undulating. The pistil of 'Balhiblu' is greenish yellow. The style and anther (after dehiscence) are both light yellow.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balhiblu' originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Illinois, during September 2000. The female parent was the proprietary Hibiscus moscheutos breeding selection 102-5-1, which exhibits a very compact habit and white flowers. The male parent of 'Balhiblu' was the breeding selection 116-23-3, characterized by its medium compact growth habit and very deep pink flowers. The initial selection was made in August 2001. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Balhiblu' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2005 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials consisted of 15 plants per variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 8 inch pots on April 22, 2005. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 21, 2005. All colour measurements were amde using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.


Comparison tables for 'Balhiblu' with reference variety 'Disco Belle Pink'

Flower diameter (cm)

  'Balhiblu' 'Disco Belle Pink'
mean 17.7 19.5
std. deviation 1.18 1.01

Petal length (cm)

  'Balhiblu' 'Disco Belle Pink'
mean 9.1 10.1
std. deviation 0.52 0.78

Colour of upper side of petal (RHS)

  'Balhiblu' 'Disco Belle Pink'
primary 155C 155C
secondary 75C N66D
basal spot 46A-B 46A-B

Click on image for larger view
Balhiblu
Hibiscus: 'Balhiblu' (left) with reference variety 'Disco Bell Pink' (right)

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