Bante Rossa

Lantana

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Balandroglow' (Landmark Rose Glow) and 'Robmornpin' (Morning Glow Pink and Yellow)

Summary: 'Bante Rossa' has shorter plants with smaller leaf blades than 'Robmornpin' and taller plants than 'Balandroglow'. 'Bante Rossa' has larger florets with stronger undulation of the corolla margin than both reference varieties. The florets of 'Bante Rossa' are light yellow upon opening, changing to white with pink tones then maturing to blue pink while those of 'Balandroglow' are yellow upon opening, changing to violet then maturing to darker blue pink and those of 'Robmornpin' are yellow green upon opening changing to blue pink then maturing to darker blue pink.

Description:

PLANT: erect growth habit

STEM: medium pubescence density

LEAF BLADE: ovate, acute apex, cuneate base, serrate margin, dark green on upper side, medium pubescence density on upper and lower sides
PETIOLE: present

INFLORESCENCE: positioned in both terminal and axillary locations on the flowering stem, dome shaped profile, more than two coloured (excluding eye zone)
COROLLA: light yellow upon opening, changing to white with pink tones and maturing to blue pink
COROLLA LOBES: arrangement in corolla is touching, incurved along longitudinal axis, moderate to strong undulation of margin
COROLLA EYE ZONE: yellow

DRUPE: few in number, green changing to blue/black when mature

Origin & Breeding History: 'Bante Rossa' was developed by the breeder, Shifeng Pan, an employee of Goldsmith Seeds, Inc. in California, U.S.A., as part of a planned pedigree breeding program. It originated from a cross made in October of 2002 between the female parent, a proprietary line designated '22-1' with rose coloured flowers, and the male parent, a proprietary line designated 'F13-1' with pink flowers. The resultant seed was sown in March of 2003 and 'Bante Rossa' was selected in May of 2003 based on its flower colour, flowering time, plant size and plant growth habit.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Bante Rossa' was conducted in a poly-house during the summer of 2006 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 26, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 10, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Bante Rossa' with reference varieties 'Balandroglow' and 'Robmornpin'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Floret length (mm)

Floret diameter (mm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Lantana: 'Bante Rossa' (left) with reference varieties 'Balandroglow' (centre) and 'Robmornpin' (right)