Pheni Ablos

Penstemon

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'White Bedder'

Summary: 'Pheni Ablos' has shorter stem internodes, lighter green leaves and larger flower diameter than 'White Bedder'. The stems of 'Pheni Ablos' have very short, dense pubescence while those of 'White Bedder' have absent to very sparse pubescence. Within the inflorescence, 'Pheni Ablos' has two flowers per axil whereas 'White Bedder' has only one flower per axil. The flowers of 'Pheni Ablos' are white with light purple red along the margins of the corolla lobes while those of 'White Bedder' are only white.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit

STEM: very short and dense pubescence, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, lanceolate, acuminate tip, entire and finely dentate margins, medium green on upper side, weak glossiness on upper side, sessile

CALYX: medium dense pubescence, no anthocyanin colouration
SEPAL: elliptic, entire margin

INFLORESCENCE: thyrse type
FLOWER: located both in axillary and terminal positions, two per axil, trumpet shaped (2 upper lobes and 3 lower lobes)
UPPER COROLLA LOBES: main colour is white on inner and outer sides, secondary colour is light purple red and located at margins of inner and outer sides
LOWER COROLLA LOBES: main colour is white on inner and outer sides, secondary colour is light purple red and located at margins of inner and outer sides
COROLLA TUBE: white on inner side
MARKINGS ON INNER SIDE OF COROLLA: absent

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pheni Ablos' was developed by the breeder, Jason Jandrew, an employee of Goldsmith Seeds in California, U.S.A. as part of a planned pedigree breeding program. It originated from a cross made on August 2, 2002 between the proprietary female parent line designated '108-1' with scarlet flowers, and the proprietary male parent line designated '112-1' with lavender flowers. 'Pheni Ablos' was selected on May 3, 2003 based on its plant growth habit, flower colour and flower form.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial of 'Pheni Ablos' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm pots on March 21, 2006 . Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 7, 2006. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Pheni Ablos' with reference variety 'White Bedder'

Stem internode length (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla (RHS)

Colour of outer side of corolla (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Penstemon: 'Pheni Ablos' (left) with reference variety 'White Bedder' (right)