Peni Laver

Penstemon

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pheni Vio' (Phoenix Violet)

Summary: 'Peni Laver' differs from the reference variety, 'Pheni Vio' mainly in leaf margin type and colour of the corolla lobes and tube. The leaf margins of 'Peni Laver' are entire whereas they are dentate on 'Pheni Vio'. The main colour of the lobes of the corolla of 'Peni Laver' is violet whereas it is more red violet on 'Pheni Vio'. The main colour of the outer side of the corolla tube of 'Peni Laver' is white with violet secondary colour whereas it is purple with white secondary colour on 'Pheni Vio'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit

STEM: sparse pubescence, absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: opposite arrangement along stem, lanceolate, narrow acute tip, mostly entire margins, medium to dark green on upper side, weak glossiness on upper side, petiole absent

CALYX: sparse pubescence, weak anthocyanin colouration
SEPAL: ovate, entire margin

INFLORESCENCE: raceme type
FLOWER: located both in axillary and terminal positions, three per axil, bilabiate (upper lip with two upper petal lobes and lower lip with three lower petal lobes)
COROLLA LOBES: main colour on inner side is violet with white secondary colour at transition to corolla tube
COROLLA TUBE: white, main colour on outer side is white with violet secondary colour at the base of all petal lobes, streaked toward the base of the tube
MARKINGS ON INNER SIDE OF COROLLA: absent

Origin & Breeding History: 'Peni Laver' 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 in July 2005 between the female parent '101-2', a proprietary seedling with white flowers, and the male parent '104-1', a proprietary seedling with apple blossom coloured flowers. 'Peni Laver' was selected on April 2006 based on plant growth habit and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial of 'Peni Laver' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring-summer of 2008 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 20 cm pots on May 15, 2008 . Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 18, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Peni Laver' with reference variety 'Pheni Vio'

Colour of upper lobes of corolla (RHS)

Colour of lower lobes of corolla (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Penstemon: 'Peni Laver' (left) with reference variety 'Pheni Vio' (right)