Apple Twist

Heuchera

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Appletini'

Summary: Colour one on the upper side of the young leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' covers a medium to large area distributed between the veins and along the margin while that of 'Appletini' covers a small area distributed along the veins and along the margin. Colour two on the upper side of the young leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' ranges from medium to light brown and covers a small area distributed along the veins while that of 'Appletini' is light green and covers a medium to large area distributed between the veins in the intermediate zone. The petiole of 'Apple Twist' is light green while that of 'Appletini' is medium brown purple. The fully expanded leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' is larger than that of 'Appletini'. The length to width ratio of the leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' is slightly elongated while that of 'Appletini' is very slightly elongated. The leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' has deep lobing and strong undulation of the margin while that of 'Appletini' has a medium degree of lobing and medium undulation of the margin. The leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' has many deep indentations along the margin while that of 'Appletini' has a medium number of shallow indentations along the margin. Colour two on the upper side of the mature leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' ranges between light green and light brown green while that of 'Appletini' is light green. The lower side of the mature leaf blade of 'Apple Twist' is medium brown green while that of 'Appletini' is light green.

Description:

PLANT: medium to dense foliage

PETIOLE: light green (RHS 145A), sparse pubescence
YOUNG LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): colour one is light green (RHS 145A/B) covering a medium to large area distributed between the veins and along the margin in a solid or nearly solid pattern, colour two is medium to light brown (RHS 174C/D) covering a small area along veins in a solid or nearly solid pattern
LEAF BLADE: the length to width ratio is slightly elongated, rounded apex, deep lobing, many deep indentations of margin, strong undulation of margin, weak rugosity
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very weak glossiness, absent or very sparse pubescence, colour one is light green (RHS N144C) covering a small to medium sized area distributed along veins and along the margin in a solid or nearly solid pattern, colour two is light green to light brown green (between RHS 145C and 193A) covering a medium to large area distributed between veins throughout in a solid or nearly solid pattern
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): medium brown green (RHS 148C), absent or very sparse pubescence

TIME OF FLOWERING: begins early to mid-season
FLOWERING STEM: upright attitude, main colour is light green (RHS N144D), length to width ratio of flowering part is moderately elongated, medium density of flowers
FLOWER BUD: light green (RHS 145D)
FLOWER: outwards attitude, short, narrow, white (RHS NN155D) outer side

Origin & Breeding History: 'Apple Twist' originated from a controlled cross between a proprietary unreleased hybrid known as 'Making Waves' and a proprietary seedling known as 'Malachite One' conducted at Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA on March 08, 2013. From the resulting progeny, seeds were collected and sown by the breeder, Hans Hansen, later in 2013. Initial selections made in 2015 were based on distinct and compact plant habit. 'Apple Twist' was first asexually propagated using shoot tip tissue culture in the spring of 2016.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Apple Twist' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2022 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each of the candidate and reference variety. The plants were grown in 16 cm pots with 40 cm spacing between pots under a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on Student's t-tests.

Comparison tables for 'Apple Twist' with reference variety 'Appletini'

Colour of young leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of petiole (RHS)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of mature leaf blade (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Heuchera: 'Apple Twist' (left) with reference variety 'Appletini' (right)