Power Purple

Chrysanthemum

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Dark Cherie'

Summary: 'Power Purple' has a smaller number of lateral flower heads showing colour when the terminal flower head is fully open than 'Dark Cherie'. 'Power Purple' is in the eight week response group while 'Dark Cherie' is in the seven week response group. The flower head of 'Power Purple' has more intense overall colour than 'Dark Cherie'.

Description:

PLANT: year round cultivation for pot production, spray flowering type, 8 week response group, very short to short height, medium to many primary lateral shoots
STEM: short to medium length internode, medium thickness, no anthocyanin colouration, medium to strong strength

LEAF: ascending to horizontal attitude, medium to long, medium width, small length to width ratio, dark green on upper side, broad wedge base shape, short to medium length lower lobe, diverging margins of sinus between lateral lobes, terminal lobe with teeth present, no secondary lobes on terminal lobe

INFLORESCENCE: cylindrical form, no secondary lateral flower heads, few to medium number of flower heads showing colour when terminal head is fully expanded
FLOWER HEAD: single, daisy type, self coloured, purple colour group, medium to strong intensity of colour, medium diameter, peduncle medium in thickness
RAY FLORETS: at right angles to floral axis, medium to high number, bracts present among florets, outer florets medium in length and width, small length to width ratio, straight along longitudinal axis, no pubescence on outer side, tip rounded with notch, outer side dark violet to purple when florets are expanding, outer and inner side violet when fully expanded
DISC: medium diameter, yellow green before anther dehiscence, whitish at anther dehiscence, tubular, type 4 distribution, short disc florets.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Power Purple' was discovered as a naturally occurring chance mutation of the variety 'Dark Cherie'. It was selected for its improved flower colour in July of 2007 at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings was first conducted in July 2007.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Power Purple' were conducted at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario in the Fall of 2008. The trial consisted of 15 plants of each variety, grown in 12.5 cm pots in the greenhouse. The plants were spaced 15 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken on 10 plants of each variety. Colours were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'Power Purple' with reference variety 'Dark Cherie'

Colour of ray floret (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Chrysanthemum: 'Power Purple' (left) with reference variety 'Dark Cherie' (right)