Dutch Chocolate

Baptisia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Twilite'

Summary: The leaf of 'Dutch Chocolate' is smaller than that of 'Twilite'. The inner and outer side of the corolla of 'Dutch Chocolate' is black purple to grey fading to a colour ranging between blue violet and dark violet while that of 'Twilite' is blue violet fading to lighter blue violet.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial, upright-bushy to arching, medium degree of branching
STEM: light green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium thickness, smooth

LEAF: alternate arrangement, trifoliate type, oblanceolate, obtuse apex, attenuate base, entire margin, weak glaucosity on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, light green on upper and lower side, no variegation, petiole present

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: raceme, positioned at terminal, erect attitude
COROLLA: partially fused arrangement of lobes, medium length, medium width, papilionaceous, absent or very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner and outer side, inner and outer side is black purple to grey (RHS N187A/B) fading to blue violet to dark violet (RHS 83C/N77C)
FLOWERING PERIOD: short to medium, flowers once early in the season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Dutch Chocolate' originated as a result of a controlled cross made in the spring of 2003 between Baptisia minor (unnamed selection) and Baptisia sphareocarpa (unnamed selection) at Shady Oaks Nursery Ltd. in Waseca, Minnesota, USA. The plants were selected in 2007 for their colour and growth habit for general garden and landscape use.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Dutch Chocolate' was conducted in an open ended polyhouse during the spring of 2014 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The plants were grown in 23 cm round pots, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 15 plants of the candidate variety and 14 plants of the reference variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Dutch Chocolate' with reference variety 'Twilite'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of inner and outer side of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Baptisia: 'Dutch Chocolate' (left) with reference variety 'Twilite' (right)