Verena

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Darlena' (Babylon Neon Rose)

Summary: 'Verena' has a larger inflorescence and corolla diameter than 'Darlena'. 'Verena' has a lighter flower colour than 'Darlena'.

Description:

'Verena' has a creeping growth habit. The stem has sparse pubescence and is light green in colour with medium anthocyanin colouration. The leaf blade is rhomboidal in shape with a cuneate shaped base. The leaf blade is dissected and has crenate margin incisions. The leaf blade is medium green in colour and has no anthocyanin.

The inflorescence of 'Verena' is broad ovate in profile. The calyx has anthocyanin colouration on the teeth. The corolla tube is very short in length and the hairs at the edge of the corolla tube are light green yellow in colour with a spot of pink. The corolla lobes are not touching, are incurved along the longitudinal axis and have strong undulation of the margin. The corolla is purple red in colour. The corolla colour fades weakly as it ages. There is a corolla eye present which is small in size and whitish green to green yellow in colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Verena' originated from a cross made at Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 1999. 'W 720', a rose flowering verbena with a spreading growth habit was crossed with 'T 593', a pink flowering verbena with a spreading growth habit.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Verena' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2004 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference variety. Plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15cm pots on April 14, 2004. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 RHS colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Verena' with reference variety 'Darlena'

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Corolla diameter (mm)

Main colour of upper side of corolla (RHS)