Bailbelle

Lilac

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Palibin' and 'Miss Kim'

Summary: 'Bailbelle' is a hybrid lilac variety that has a bushy, rounded growth habit with a dense crown, similar to 'Palibin' but very different from 'Miss Kim' and most other lilac varieties. 'Bailbelle' has a small, rounded leaf blade whereas 'Palibin' has a broad ovate leaf and 'Miss Kim' has a large, ovate shaped leaf. 'Bailbelle' has dense pubescence on the lower surface of the leaf blade, while the reference varieties have sparse pubescence . 'Bailbelle' also has dense pubescence on the pedicels, whereas 'Palibin' has medium and 'Miss Kim' has sparse pubescence. The main distinguishing characteristic is the colour of the flower buds and flowers of 'Bailbelle', which are pink, compared with the flower buds and flowers of the references which are more purple coloured.

Description:

'Bailbelle' is a lilac variety which produces bushy, globe shaped plants with dense foliage. Anthocyanin colouration in the young shoots is very strong and pubescence is dense. The bark of the one year old shoots is reddish brown and there are a medium number of lenticels. The leaves are small, rounded in shape and smooth in texture. The leaf tip is acute and the base is rounded. In cross section the leaf blade is strongly concave. The upper surface of the leaf blade is medium green, with moderate pubescence and no glossiness. The lower surface is light green with strong pubescence. The margin is weakly undulating and there is no glaucosity on either leaf surface.

'Bailbelle' flowers mid-season and produces erect panicles on both lateral and terminal buds. The peduncle and pedicels are strongly pubescent. The florets are single and have four corolla lobes that are flat to cupped shaped in cross-section with a rounded tip. The corolla tube is funnel form and long (up to one and a half times the diameter). The buds of 'Bailbelle' are deep pink in colour and the open florets are light pink with a darker pink corolla tube. The stamens are more than half the length of the corolla tube and have purple anthers. The fragrance of 'Bailbelle' is strong.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Bailbelle' is a hybrid which originated from a cross between Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' and Syringa microphylla 'Superba'. The initial selection was conducted in 1985 in North Dakota. The selection criteria were hardiness and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Bailbelle' were conducted at Jeffries Nurseries, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba during 2000 and 2001. Ten plants, planted 2 feet apart, were evaluated in the field, and a further ten plants, growing in 2 gallon pots were observed. Measured characteristics were taken from the plants grown in pots and were based on a minimum of ten measurements. The potted plants were rooted as softwood cuttings the first year, planted in 1 gallon pots the second year and transplanted into 2 gallon pots during the third year.

Comparison tables for 'Bailbelle' with reference varieties 'Palibin' and 'Miss Kim'

Length of leaf blade (cm)

Width of leaf blade (cm)

Length of petiole (mm)

Diameter of corolla (mm)

Colour of bud (RHS)

Flower colour (RHS)

Colour of corolla lobes (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)