Trial of Verbena, AGM

from cuttings 2006-2007

AGM

Entries receiving The Award of Garden Merit (H3) (Aztec Series) Aztec Silver Magic ' Balazsilma' AGM (H3) 2007. Sent by Ball Colegrave Ltd. Plant 25cm high, 70cm spread. Leaves are small and mediumgreen. Lightly scented flowers are pale-violet 85C; individually 1.9cm diameter; inflorescence 5.5cm diameter. Good flower cover with lots of upward facing flowers. Pretty colour. (Babylon Series) Babylon Light Blue 'Dulcena' AGM (H3) 2007. Sent by S&G Flowers. Plant 30cm high, 94cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark to medium-green. Flowers are pastel-violet 84A with a white eye; individually 1.4cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Masses of attractive, clear, light-blue flowers held above clean, healthy foliage. Good succession of flowers. (Babylon Series) Babylon Neon Rose 'Florena' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by S&G Flowers. Plant 30cm high, 70cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark green. Flowers are deep-pink 58B; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 4.5cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Very floriferous with well distributed, rounded flower heads of a rich, deep pink over lush foliage.

(Corsage Series) 'Corsage Red' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Young Plants Ltd. Plant 36cm high, 68cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Flowers are double and bright-red 45B; individually 1.7cm diameter; inflorescence 6cm diameter. Excellent display of vibrant red, double flowers. (Donalena Series) Donalena Lavender Grace AGM (H3) 2007. Sent by Young Plants Ltd. Plant 35cm high, 70cm spread. Leaves are small and mediumgreen. Lightly scented flowers are soft-violet 87B at the edge, fading to white at the eye; individually 1.8cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Floriferous. Large flowers are a pretty bi-colour. Good succession of flowers and good foliage.

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(Donalena Series) Donalena Pink Heart [syn. Tonic Pink Candy] AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Young Plants Ltd. Plant 60cm high, 95cm spread. Leaves are small, dark green. Lightly scented flowers are light-pink 74C grading to darker pink 74A at centre; individually 1.8cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Attractive bicolour effect with ruffled edges to flowers. Dark centre to flower ages to magenta. Healthy plants. (Donalena Series) Donalena Purple Velvet [syn. Tonic Deep Purple] AGM (H3) 2007. Sent by Young Plants Ltd. Plant 33cm high, 60cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Scented flowers are a rich, rose-purple N81A, flushed bright-purple N78A at centre with a white eye; individually 2.2cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Good cover of large flowers with an attractive, rich colour.

(Fuego Series) Fuego Apricot 'Kleve04335' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Sakata Ornamentals UK Ltd. Plant 45cm high, 80cm spread. Leaves small, dark green. Scented flowers are pale-apricot 159A, darker in bud; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 6cm diameter. Attractive, slightly cupped flowers are an excellent colour. Good spreading habit.

(Lanai Series) Lanai Peach 'Lan Peachy' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Fischer GmbH & Co. KG. Plant 46cm high, 70cm spread. Leaves are small and dark, dullgreen. Lightly scented flowers are dark peach 40C, fading to light peach 29C as they mature; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 6cm diameter. Long display of flowers with good depth of colour that contrast well with the rich, green foliage. Slight colour change in flower enhances the effect.

(Lascar Series) Lascar Cerise AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Sakata Ornamentals UK Ltd. Plant 50cm high, 90cm spread. Leaves are dark, glossy-green. Scented flowers are dark-red 45A; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 6cm diameter. Superb flowers. Good bold colour and large, well shaped flower heads; plenty of buds for continuity of flowering; good green foliage; wonderfully healthy.

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(Lascar Series) Lascar Hot Rose 'Kleve03321' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Sakata Ornamentals UK Ltd. Plant 41cm high, 77cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Flowers are bright-pink 57A, deepening at the eye; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Healthy plants with good green foliage and lots of large flowers. Flowers are a vibrant colour and have a slightly deeper eye.

(Lascar Series) Lascar Light Pink 'Kleve04343' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Sakata Ornamentals UK Ltd. Plant 50cm high, 75cm spread. Leaves are small, cut and dark green. Flowers pink 75B, fading to white, which gives the effect of bicoloured inflorescences; individually 1.8cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Bicolour flowers with an attractive colour change from dark to light that contrasts well with the dark foliage. Healthy plants are a good rounded shape and well covered with flowers.

(Lascar Series) Lascar White 'Kleve04340' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Sakata Ornamentals UK Ltd. Plant 60cm high, 90cm spread. Leaves are small, dark green. Scented flowers are white 155C; individually 1.8cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Big, well held flowers; healthy, dark foliage.

(Superbena Series) Superbena Bushy Crimson [syn. of Superbena Crimson] 'Usbena5117' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Innovaplant GmbH & Co. KG. Plant 42cm high, 78cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Flowers are bright-red 45B; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 4.5cm diameter. Very floriferous. Vibrant, rich red flowers give a continuous display. The more upright habit is very good in containers.

(Superbena Series) Superbena Pink Lace 'Usbenas26' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Innovaplant GmbH & Co. Plant 40cm high, 84cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and light, dull-green. Scented flowers are pink-purple 74C; individually 1.5cm diameter; inflorescence 4cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Pretty lilac colour with attractive light green foliage and delicate, airy habit.

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(Superbena Series) Superbena Red Ruby 'Usbena5122' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Innovaplant GmbH & Co. KG. Plant 47cm high, 75cm spread. Leaves are small and dark dullgreen. Flowers are very bright, dark-red 45B with white eye; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Intense scarlet with bright eye. Good mounding plants with pendulous, semi-upright habit.

(Superbena Series) Superbena White Lace 'Usbena361' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Innovaplant GmbH & Co. KG. Plant 47cm high, 80cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark green. Lightly scented flowers are white; individually 1.5cm diameter; inflorescence 4.5cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Dainty foliage and a good clean white. Good to mix with other plants.

(Tapien Series) Tapien Salmon 'Suntapiro' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Four Oaks Nurseries Ltd. Plant 44cm high, 75cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark green. Highly scented flowers are candy pink 57C; individually 1.5cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Very pretty flowers cover the plants well. Good clean foliage.

(Tapien Series) Tapien Sky Blue AGM (H3) 2007. Sent by Four Oaks Nurseries Ltd. Plant 26cm high, 90cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark green. Lightly scented flowers are purple-violet N82A; individually 1.4cm diameter; inflorescence 4cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Good cover of attractive flowers with good violet-blue colour. Compact plants with good trailing habit.

(Temari Series) Temari Coral Pink 2003 'Sunmaricorapi' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Four Oaks Nurseries Ltd. Plant 51cm high, 90cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Lightly scented flowers are pale, soft-pink 62A, deepening outwards to salmon-pink 63C; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 5cm diameter. Amazing bright pink that is still good when faded; attractive green eye; good foliage and habit; weaves well.

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(Temari Series) Temari Neon Red 'Sunmarineopi' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Four Oaks Nurseries Ltd. Plant 45cm high, 80cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Flowers are bright-red 42A, fading to pink 58B around the edges; individually 1.8cm diameter; inflorescence 5.5cm diameter. Terrific impact. Intense red blending to pink, complimented by the foliage. (Tukana Series) Tukana Scarlet 'Scarlena' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by S&G Flowers. Plant 50cm high, 80cm spread. Leaves are small and dark green. Flowers are bright-red 45B; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 6cm diameter. Continuous display of strikingly bright, large flowers. Healthy plants with good green foliage. (Tukana Series) Tukana Strawberry and Cream 'Arbena' AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by S&G Flowers. Plant 40cm high, 75cm spread. Leaves are small, dark green. Lightly scented flowers are very bright pink 58B blending to mid-red 46B towards the centre; individually 2cm diameter; inflorescence 5.5cm diameter. Large flowers are a glowing, vibrant colour. Good green foliage and upright habit. (Veralena Series) Veralena White [syn. Gin White] AGM (H3) 2006. Sent by Young Plants Ltd. Plant 47cm high, 73cm spread. Leaves small, deeply cut and dark green. Lightly scented flowers are white 155C; individually 1.5cm diameter; inflorescence 4cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta hybrid. Good clean white flowers. Floriferous and elegant. Airy, trailing habit. Good to weave through other plants. The following entries cannot receive the AGM recommended to them until queries on availability have been resolved. It is the responsibility of the sender to inform the Trials Office at Wisley that all queries have been resolved. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY (Aztec Series) Aztec Magic Purple 'Balazmapurp' Recommended 2007. Sent by Ball Colegrave Ltd. Plant 30cm high, 66cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark green. Lightly scented flowers are dark-violet 83B with white eye; individually 1.7cm diameter; inflorescence 4.5cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta. Full of flower, with good colour that is lifted by the white eye. Attractive, rich-green foliage. 5

(Ipanema Series) Ipanema Blue 'Vilena' Recommended 2007. Sent by S&G Flowers. Plant 25cm high, 70cm spread. Leaves are small, deeply cut and dark to medium-green. Scented flowers are deep purple-violet, closest to N81A; individually 1.2cm diameter; inflorescence 3.5cm diameter. Verbena tenuisecta. Graceful foliage and good flower cover. Flowers are an attractive, rich colour. Trial Notes: Objectives: • To demonstrate a range of cultivars that are currently available • To assess performance of these plants when grown in containers • To recommend the Award of Garden Merit [AGM] to cultivars considered excellent for basket and container use Entries: As there were over 120 cultivars offered for this trial, it was decided to spread the trial over two years. 54 entries in shades of white, salmon and red were accepted for trial in 2006 and 46 entries in shades of blue, lilac and purple were accepted in 2007. Entries were received from various companies in the UK and Europe. Cultivation: Rooted cuttings arrived at Wisley during February and March and were potted into 9cm pots of nursery stock compost. The plants were grown on in a glasshouse heated to 10ºC and then planted three per container at the end of April. Slow release fertilizer at 2g per litre of compost was added. One 40cm (16 inch/10 litre) hanging basket and two 19 litre bell pots of each cultivar were grown. The plants were moved outside to harden off at the end of May. Drip irrigation was installed to water the plants each day and both trials were regularly sprayed with 'compost tea' and SB Plant Invigorator'. Judging: The Floral Trials Sub-Committee assessed entries in the trial for the Award of Garden Merit at Wisley at fortnightly intervals from 15 June to 6 September 2006 and from 27 June to 19 September 2007. The Sub-Committee used the following criteria: floriferousness : flower cover : appearance (self-cleaning) foliage : earliness and length of flowering period

Red, pink and white cultivars on 6 July 2006 6

Cultivars in blue and purple shades on 4 September 2007 Findings: The summer of 2006 was hot and dry (sunshine hours and temperatures were well above the long term average for June, July and September. 20 July was the hottest day since 1976 at 36.5ºC) and the plants made an impressive display from mid-June until well into September. The high temperatures did mean that the irrigation system for the trial had to be supplemented by hand watering, with the hanging baskets proving quite difficult to keep well watered. As well as the daily watering, a spray of 'compost tea' was applied fortnightly. Compost teas are produced from a special composting process and usually contain plant foods, micro-organisms and the complex chemicals made by these organisms all of which are claimed to have an effect on plants and plant diseases. The dried extracts and kits to make compost tea at home are available to the public and automated equipment is offered to professional growers. The Sub-Committee, who noted that the plants were very healthy and remarkably free of mildew, queried whether the regular application of 'compost tea' was responsible. Dr Prior (Head of Horticultural Sciences) advised that a two year Horticultural Development Company funded project investigating the use of 'compost tea' in commercial horticulture found that applications were sometimes beneficial, but that the results were disappointingly inconsistent. He noted that the trial was planted in peat-free compost, which the staff had found difficult to water. As a result the amount and frequency of watering had been increased. Since powdery mildews are encouraged by water stress, it may simply have been the greater attention to watering that resulted in the plants being free of disease. As no plants were left untreated for comparison, it was not possible to tell if it was the 'compost tea' that had made a difference. Plants in the 2007 trial were also regularly fed and treated with the 'compost tea' and they too remained largely free of disease until mid-September when the fortnightly foliage sprays were stopped. Following this some of the V. tenuisecta entries did begin to show signs of mildew, but it was not possible to say if was due to the withdrawal of the 'compost tea'. 2007 had been a difficult year for the trial of the blue and purple shaded cultivars, with a particularly wet July and August and few sunny days. The sunshine hours were well below the long term average for June, July and August and July was the wettest on record (almost five times above 2006 and the long term average). Initially the plants were not as vigorous or as floriferous as the red, pink and white shades had been at the same time of year in 2006. The Sub-Committee considered this to be due to a lack of sun rather than any deficiency in the plants or cultivation, and this was confirmed when the weather improved in early September and the plants quickly recovered to put on a display comparable to that of the 2006 trial.

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Trial Entries: Awards

Name

Sender

AGM (H3) 2007

Aztec Silver Magic 'Balazsilma'

Ball Colegrave

AGM (H3) 2007

Babylon Light Blue 'Dulcena'

S&G Flowers

AGM (H3) 2006

Babylon Neon Rose 'Florena'

S&G Flowers

AGM (H3) 2006

'Corsage Red'

Young Plants

AGM (H3) 2007

Donalena Lavender Grace

Young Plants

AGM (H3) 2006

Donalena Pink Heart

Young Plants (syn. Tonic Pink Candy)

AGM (H3) 2007

Young Plants

Donalena Purple Velvet (syn. Tonic Deep Purple)

AGM (H3) 2006

Fuego Apricot 'Kleve04335'

Sakata Ornamentals

AGM (H3) 2006

Lanai Peach 'Lan Peachy'

Fischer GmbH

AGM (H3) 2006

Lascar Cerise

Sakata Ornamentals

AGM (H3) 2006

Lascar Hot Rose 'Kleve03321'

Sakata Ornamentals

AGM (H3) 2006

Lascar Light Pink 'Kleve04343'

Sakata Ornamentals

AGM (H3) 2006

Lascar White 'Kleve04340'

Sakata Ornamentals

AGM (H3) 2006

Superbena Bushy Crimson Innovaplant (syn. Subena Crimson) 'Usbena5117'

AGM (H3) 2006

Superbena Pink Lace 'Usbenas26'

Innovaplant

AGM (H3) 2006

Superbena Red Ruby 'Usbena5122'

Innovaplant

AGM (H3) 2006

Superbena White Lace 'Usbena361'

Innovaplant

AGM (H3) 2006

Tapien Salmon 'Suntapiro'

Four Oaks Nurseries

AGM (H3) 2007

Tapien Sky Blue

Four Oaks Nurseries

AGM (H3) 2006

Temari Coral Pink 2003 'Sunmaricorapi'

Four Oaks Nurseries

AGM (H3) 2006

Temari Neon Red 'Sunmarineopi'

Four Oaks Nurseries

AGM (H3) 2006

Tukana Scarlet 'Scarlena'

S&G Flowers

AGM (H3) 2006

Tukana Strawberry and Cream 'Arbena'

S&G Flowers

AGM (H3) 2006

Veralena White (syn. Gin White)

Young Plants

AGM (H3) 2007 STA

Aztec Magic Purple 'Balazmapurp'

Ball Colegrave

AGM (H3) 2007 STA

Ipanema Blue 'Vilena'

S&G Flowers 8

Awards

Name

Sender

Aztec Lavender 'Balazlav' Aztec Magic Plum 'Balazplum' AztecViolet 'Balazvio' Babylon Blue 'Lobena' Babylon Dark Red 'Amarena' Babylon Pink 'Verena' Babylon Purple 'Wynena' Babylon Red 'Oxena' Babylon White 'Vertis' 'Corsage Peach' Donalena Dark Blue Donalena Deep Pink Donalene Imp Crimson Donalena Lilac Whisper Donalena Magenta Donalena Purple Twinkle Donalene Red Pepper Improved Donalena White Hail Escapade Bright Eye 'Esca Bright Eye' Flamenco Dark Red 'Wesverdark' Flamenco Lilac 'Wesverlila' Flamenco Rose 'Wesverrose' Fuego Pink 'Kleve04334' Fuego Scarlet Fuego Violet 'Kleve04336' Ipanema Lilac 'Iplilnena' Ipanema Star 'Biwarena' Lanai Lavender Star 'Lan Lav Star' Lanai Royal Purple with Eye 'Lan Roypureye' 'Lapel Blue' 'Lapel Lilac' 'Lapel Pink' 'Lapel Purple' Lascar Dark Blue 'Kleve04341' Lascar Dark Violet with Eye 'Kleve04342' Lascar Purple 'Klevp05344' Magelana Dark Blue 'Darkeyena' Magelana Magic Purple (syn. Magalena Carpet Magic Purple) 'Carmapur' Magelana Magic Rose 'Carpin' Magelana Midnitght Purple (syn. Magalena Carpet Midnight Purple) 'Cardarpur' Magelana Pink Swirl 'Carspiswi' Magelana Scarlet 'Carsca' Magelana White 'Carwi' Rupunzel Hot Rose 'Rap Horose' Rupunzel Red '06 'Lan Redtwo' Rupunzel Violet '06 'Rap Viotwo' Superbena Coral Red 'Usbenal17' Superbena Dark Blue 'Usbenal8' Superbena Lavender Lace (syn. of Superbena Lavender) 'Usbenas4'

Ball Colegrave Ball Colegrave Ball Colegrave S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Yoder Toddington Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Sakata Ornamentals Sakata Ornamentals Sakata Ornamentals S&G Flowers S&G Flowers Yoder Toddington Yoder Toddington Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Sakata Ornamentals Sakata Ornamentals Sakata Ornamentals S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers Fischer GmbH Fischer GmbH Yoder Toddington Innovaplant Innovaplant Innovaplant

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Awards

Name

Sender

Superbena Lipstick Lace 'Usbenas4702' Superbena Violet Blue Lace (syn. Superbena Blue) 'Usbenas10' Tapien Pink 'Sunver' Tapien Violet 'Sunvop' Tapien White Dream 'Suntapiwhid' Temari Blue 'Sunmariribu' Temari Lavender Temari Peaches & Cream 'Sunmaripeach' Temari Scarlet 'Sunmarisu' Temari Violet 'Sunmariba' 'Tiara Cola' 'Tiara Magenta' 'Tiara Patio Dark Red' 'Tiara Patio Pink' 'Tiara Patio Soft Pink' 'Tiara Patio White' 'Tiara Wine' Tukana Denim Blue 'Spikena' Tukana Purple 'Pulena' Tukana Salmon Rose 'Salmena' Tukana White 'Blancena' Veralena Lavender Veralena Magenta Veralena Timeless Pink Veralena Violet

Innovaplant Innovaplant Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Four Oaks Nurseries Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers S&G Flowers Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants Young Plants

STA – Subject to Availability Names and Addresses of senders Ball Colegrave Ltd, West Adderbury, Banbury, Oxon OX17 3EY. Fischer GmbH & Co. KG, Am Scheid, 56204 Hillscheid, Germany D56204. Four Oaks Nurseries, Farm Lane, Lower Withington, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9DU. Innovaplant GmbH & Co. KG., Postfach 100 Gensingen, Germany D55454. S&G Flowers Syngenta Seeds Ltd, 17 Summerwood Lane, Halsall, Lancs L39 8TH. Sakata Ornamentals UK Ltd, The Wilgro Nursery, York Road, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO3 7AA. Yoder Toddington, Toddington Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7PL. Young Plants, Whitehill Farm Preson on Stour, Warwickshire CV37 8BW.

Source: Trials Office, RHS Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB e-mail: [email protected]. More information about RHS Trials and other trials reports can be found on the RHS Website : http://www.rhs.org.uk/trials

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