DG09-4

Foxglove

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Waldigone' (Goldcrest)

Summary: The plants of 'DG09-4' are taller with a greater number of secondary shoots than the plants of 'Waldigone'. The stem of 'DG09-4' has very dense pubescence while the stem of 'Waldigone' has absent or very sparse pubescence. The inflorescence of the primary shoot of 'DG09-4' is longer than that of 'Waldigone'. The corolla of 'DG09-4' is larger and longer (including the corolla tube) than the corolla of 'Waldigone'. The inner side of the upper corolla lobe of 'DG09-4' is light yellow with orange tones and dark purple red secondary colour along the margin whereas the inner side of the upper corolla lobe of 'Waldigone' is yellow orange to light yellow. The inner side of the lower corolla lobe of 'DG09-4' is orange changing to white toward the base with a band of purple secondary colour along the margin and medium brown veins whereas the inner side of the lower corolla lobe of 'Waldigone' is light yellow with yellow orange veins and light brown speckles. The outer side of the upper corolla lobe of 'DG09-4' is brown purple to blue pink with dark purple red along the margin edge whereas the outer side of the upper corolla lobe of 'Waldigone' is light yellow orange. The outer side of the lower corolla lobe of 'DG09-4' is brown purple to blue pink with light yellow orange tones toward the base and dark purple red along the margin edge while the outer side of the lower corolla lobe of 'Waldigone' is light yellow orange. The inner side of the corolla tube of 'DG09-4' is light yellow with medium brown speckles whereas that of 'Waldigone' is light yellow brown. The outer side of the corolla tube of 'DG09-4' is orange with brown purple to blue pink at the transition to the corolla lobes whereas that of 'Waldigone' is light yellow orange with orange brown to orange pink tones.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, very few to few primary shoots, many secondary shoots, many flowering stems
STEM: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, very dense pubescence, thick, alternate arrangement of leaves

PETIOLE: present
LEAF BLADE: elliptic shape, acuminate apex, attenuate base, serrate incisions of margin, dark green on upper side, dense pubescence on upper side, no lobing, strong blistering

FLOWER BUD: oblong (flattened) shape, brown purple (darker than RHS 186A), green at base
INFLORESCENCE: raceme type, many flowers per raceme, short rachis internode
CALYX: outer dorsal side is medium green, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration at distal end, medium density pubescence on outer dorsal side
COROLLA: bilabiate form, weak to medium conspicuousness of spots on inner side, dense pubescence on outer side
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): upper lobe is light yellow (lighter than RHS 8D) with orange (RHS 26B) tones and dark purple red (RHS 59A-B) secondary colour along margin; lower lobe is orange (RHS 26B) changing to white (RHS 155A) toward base with band of purple (RHS 59C) secondary colour along margin and medium brown (close to RHS 172A) veins
COROLLA LOBE (OUTER SIDE): upper lobe is brown purple to blue pink (RHS 186B-C) with dark purple red (RHS 59A-B) along margin edge, lower lobe is brown purple to blue pink (RHS 186B-C) with light yellow orange (RHS 11D) tones toward base and dark purple red (RHS 59A-B) along margin edge
COROLLA TUBE (INNER SIDE): light yellow (RHS 8D) with medium brown (RHS 172A) speckles
COROLLA TUBE (OUTER SIDE): orange (RHS 26C-D) with brown purple to blue pink (RHS 186B-C) at transition to corolla lobes
ANTHER: white after dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'DG09-4' originated from a cross conducted by the breeder Charles Valin, an employee of Thompson and Morgan Ltd. (A Division of Branded Garden Products Ltd.), as part of a controlled breeding program in Ipswich, United Kingdom during the summer of 2008. The cross involved the unpatented lines, 'DG05006' as the female parent, and 'DG05043' as the male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'DG09-4' was selected by the breeder for its continuous flowering, sterile flowers, dark pink with apricot tinged flower colour and deeply serrated leaves.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'DG09-4' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 4.4 liter containers on April 21, 2015. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of 'DG09-4' on July 28, 2015 and of 'Waldigone' on July 2, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'DG09-4' with reference variety 'Waldigone'

Plant height (cm)

Inflorescence of primary shoot length (cm)

Corolla height (cm)

Corolla width (cm)

Corolla length (including corolla tube) (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla (RHS)

Colour of outer side of corolla (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

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Foxglove: 'DG09-4' (left) with reference variety 'Waldigone' (right)

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Foxglove: 'DG09-4' (left) with reference variety 'Waldigone' (right)

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Foxglove: 'DG09-4' (left) with reference variety 'Waldigone' (right)