Rockred

Saxifrage

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'PeterPan Red' and 'Purple Robe'

Summary: The leaf blade of 'Rockred' is longer and wider than the leaf blade of 'PeterPan Red' and shorter and narrower than the leaf blade of 'Purple Robe'. The flower of 'Rockred' has a larger diameter than the flower of 'PeterPan Red'. The flowers of 'Rockred' fade slightly in colour with age while the flowers of 'PeterPan Red' fade to white and blue pink with age. The colour at the base of the petal is red for 'Rockred' while it is yellow for the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: erect growth habit, many flowering stems, dense foliage

LEAF: alternate arrangement, simple, elliptic to obovate shape, apex with 3-5 deep lobes, upper side light green, no petiole

INFLORESCENCE: flowering stem light green with medium to strong anthocyanin colouration, cymose panicle, very early time of flowering
FLOWERS: upper side dark purple red (RHS 53A) with brown purple (RHS 187A) veins when newly opened, dark purple red (RHS 60B) with red at base and brown purple (RHS 187A) veins when fully opened, dark purple red to purple (RHS 60B-C) when mature to aged
PETAL: broad elliptic shape, broad acute to rounded apex, apex with weak to medium reflexing
ANTHER: yellow before dehiscence, yellow to orange after dehiscence
FILAMENT: yellow

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Rockred' was selected as a red flowered seedling, designated as D702, which originated from three cycles of halfsib selection from the Saxifraga x arendsii variety 'Purperteppich'. The selection cycles were conducted during the period starting in April 2001 through to March 2003 in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands. The variety was selected in March 2003 based on criteria for early spring flowering, strong compact plant habit, free flowering and non-fading dark red flower colour. The variety has been reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands since March 2003.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Rockred' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2011 in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials included 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 11 cm pots in September 2010. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of the candidate variety on April 20, 2011 and on the reference varieties on May 4, 2011. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Rockred' with reference varieties 'PeterPan Red' and 'Purple Robe'

Leaf blade length (mm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Flower diameter (mm)

Colour of upper side of petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Saxifrage: 'Rockred' (left) with reference varieties 'PeterPan Red' (centre) and 'Purple Robe' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Saxifrage: 'Rockred' (left) with reference varieties 'PeterPan Red' (centre) and 'Purple Robe' (right)