AKIV5-4

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'KLEVE03330' (Lascar Cerise)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'AKIV5-4' is longer than the leaf blade of 'KLEVE03330'. The corolla of 'AKIV5-4' is even coloured while the corolla of 'KLEVE03330' is shaded, becoming lighter towards the apex of the lobes. The lower side of the corolla is red to dark pink red for 'AKIV5-4' while it is dark pink red for 'KLEVE03330'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit
STEM: dense pubescence, light green, absent to weak anthocyanin colouration on middle third

LEAF: ovate, cuneate and truncate base, no divisions, crenate and dentate margin incisions, upper side medium green with no anthocyanin colouration

INFLORESCENCE: broad ovate in profile
CAYLX: anthocyanin colouration on teeth only
COROLLA TUBE: hairs pink and purple at tip
COROLLA LOBES: not touching, longitudinal axis straight, very weak margin undulation, one colour on upper side, even colour pattern, upper side red (RHS 45B), lower side red to dark pink red (RHS 46C-D), no colour change with age
COROLLA EYE: absent.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'AKIV5-4' originated from a controlled cross made in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on April 5, 2005. The female parent was a proprietary seedling designated VJ05-13-1 and the male parent was a proprietary seedling designated 04V73-01. The new verbena was selected as a single plant from the resultant progeny on June 30, 2006 in Bonsall, California, USA and was selected based on good branching characteristics, flower bloom time and good resistance to powdery mildew. The variety was first propagated by vegetative cuttings on July 3, 2006 in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'AKIV5-4' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2010, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11 cm pots on May 4, 2010. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 4, 2010. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'AKIV5-4' with reference variety 'KLEVE03330'

Leaf blade length (mm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

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Verbena: 'AKIV5-4' (left) with reference variety 'KLEVE03330' (right)

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Verbena: 'AKIV5-4' (left) with reference variety 'KLEVE03330' (right)