Balbidsuki

Bidens

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Peters Goldteppich' (Peter's Gold Carpet) and 'Golden Star'

Summary: 'Balbisuki' has a semi-upright to trailing growth habit while it is spreading for 'Peters Goldteppich' and upright bushy for 'Golden Star'. 'Balbidsuki' is wider than 'Golden Star' and taller than the reference varieties. The leaf blade and bract of 'Balbidsuki' are longer and wider than those of the reference varieties. The petiole of 'Balbidsuki' is also longer than the petiole of the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: annual, semi-upright to trailing growth habit, dense branching

STEM: greyed-purple, strong to very strong anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak glaucosity, dense pubescence, thick, edged-striate surface

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, bipinnately compound, five to seven leaflets
LEAF BLADE: ovate to elliptic, acute and cuspidate apex, attenuate base, pinnatisect margin, medium pubescence on upper side, sparse pubescence on veins only on lower side, medium green on upper side, light green on lower side, no variegation
PETIOLE: present

FLOWERING: almost continuous for a long time
PEDUNCLE: anthocyanin colouration mostly absent, dense pubescence
BRACT: dark green, linear in shape, acute apex, very weak recurvature of tip, entire margin, medium pubescence on upper and lower side
INFLORESCENCE: head type
FLOWER: positioned both in terminal and axillary locations on the flowering stem, erect attitude
RAY FLORET: arrangement within the flower is open, moderate in number (five to six range), elliptic, emarginate-dentate apex, weak to medium recurvature of tip, entire margin, very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower sides, darker and more intense yellow on upper side, yellow on lower side
FLORET DISC: present

Origin & Breeding History: The Bidens variety 'Balbidsuki' is the result of an open pollination of Bidens Solaire Yellow conducted during July 2004 at Arroyo Grande, California, as part of a controlled breeding program. The female seed parent Bidens Solaire Yellow is characterized by its dark yellow flower colour, dark green leaf colour and spreading growth habit. The initial selection was made on November 11, 2004. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings. Selection criteria for this variety included rounder flower form, floriferousness, heavy branching characteristics and growth habit.

Tests & Trials: PBR trials were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2007 in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials included 15 plants of the candidate and reference variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 10, 2007. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 16-21, 2007. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balbidsuki' with reference varieties 'Peters Goldteppich' and 'Golden Star'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (mm)

Bract length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Bidens: 'Balbidsuki' (left) with reference varieties 'Golden Star' (centre) and 'Peters Goldteppich' (right)