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Keiser

Abelia

Denomination: 'Keiser'
Trade name: Ruby Anniversary
Botanical Name: Abelia chinensis
Applicant/Holder: Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
12601 120th Avenue
Grand Haven, Michigan
49417
United States of America
Breeder: Susan Keiser, Ossining, United States of America
Agent in Canada: BioFlora Inc.
38723 Fingal Line
R.R. #1
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5P 3S5
Canada
Tel: 519-317-7511
Application Date: 2009-08-10
Application Number: 09-6712
Grant of Rights Date: 2010-08-27
Certificate Number: 3910
Date rights surrendered: 2013-08-02

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: Abelia chinensis

Summary: The plants of 'Keiser' are narrower than the species Abelia chinensis. The degree of branching is higher in 'Keiser' than the species Abelia chinensis. 'Keiser' has a thicker stem than the species Abelia chinensis. The leaf of 'Keiser' is narrower than the species Abelia chinensis. 'Keiser' has a brown red sepal colour while it is an orange brown colour with pink tones at the apex for the species Abelia chinensis. The flower of 'Keiser' is larger than in the species Abelia chinensis.

Description:

PLANT: deciduous flowering shrub, bushy to spreading growth habit, high degree of branching, medium foliage density

STEM: thick, smooth, main stem brown, lateral stem red

LEAF: opposite arrangement, simple, ovate shape, acute apex, weakly cordate base, weakly dentate margin, shallow margin incisions, strong glossiness, sparse pubescence on upper side, medium pubescence on midrib of lower side, dark green (RHS N137A) on upper side, medium green (RHS 147C) on lower side, no variegation, petiole present

INFLORESCENCE: flowers arranged both terminally and axillary in a cluster type fashion
SEPAL: brown red (RHS 181D) on upper and lower sides
FLOWER: funnel shaped, medium fragrance, upper side white (RHS NN155D) with a light blue violet (RHS 69C) blush, lower side white (RHS NN155D) with blue pink (RHS 73B) tones
FILAMENT: white
ANTHER: pale pink

Origin & Breeding History: 'Keiser' was discovered in 1995 as a chance seedling by Susan Keiser in her garden in Ossining, New York, USA. The parentage of the variety is unknown, but observed characteristics suggest that it likely originated from Abelia chinensis. The new variety was selected in 1995 based on its growth habit, stem colour, foliage colour and flower size.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Keiser' were conducted in an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2009 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 8 plants of the candidate variety and 5 of the reference variety. All plants were grown from 5.7 cm liners planted into 7.6 litre containers in May 2009. Trials were arranged with approximately 0.5 meter spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken of each variety on September 10, 2009. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.


Comparison tables for 'Keiser' with reference variety Abelia chinensis

Plant width (cm)

  'Keiser' Abelia chinensis
mean 56.8 91.2
std. deviation 10.48 13.31

Leaf width (cm)

  'Keiser' Abelia chinensis
mean 2.1 2.7
std. deviation 0.2 0.22

Flower length (cm)

  'Keiser' Abelia chinensis
mean 2.1 1.5
std. deviation 0.07 0.09

Flower width (cm)

  'Keiser' Abelia chinensis
mean 1.6 1.2
std. deviation 0.07 0.09

Sepal colour (RHS)

  'Keiser' Abelia chinensis
upper side 181D with strong 181C overlay N170D with 182D at apex
lower side 181D with weak 181C overlay N170D with 182D at apex

Click on image for larger view
Keiser
Abelia: 'Keiser' (left) with reference variety Abelia chinensis (right)

Click on image for larger view
Keiser
Abelia: 'Keiser' (left) with reference variety Abelia chinensis (right)

Click on image for larger view
Keiser
Abelia: 'Keiser' (left) with reference variety Abelia chinensis (right)

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