Balbalmurp

Monarda

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pardon My Purple'

Summary: The plants of 'Balbalmurp' are broader and begin flowering earlier than the plants of 'Pardon My Purple'. The unfused part of the lower lip of the corolla of 'Balbalmurp' is longer than the unfused part of the lower lip of the corolla of 'Pardon My Purple'. The colour of the inner side of the lower lip is violet with purple tones for 'Balbalmurp' while it is purple for 'Pardon My Purple'. The colour of the outer dorsal side of the corolla tube is violet for 'Balbalmurp' while it is blue pink for 'Pardon My Purple'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-erect growth habit
STEM: edged shape, dense pubescence, medium green, absent of very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: ovate shape, narrow acute apex, serrate type incisions of margin, absent to weak undulation of margin, dark green on upper side, absent to weak glossiness of upper side, medium density of pubescence on upper side, no anthocyanin colouration of upper and lower side, blistering present

FLOWERING: begins mid-season
SEPAL: ovate shape, anthocyanin colouration present
FLOWER: positioned at same level as foliage, bilabiate type
LOWER LIP OF COROLLA: inner side is violet (RHS N78A) with purple (RHS N74A) tones
COROLLA TUBE: outer dorsal side is violet (RHS N78A-B)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balbalmurp' originated from a controlled breeding program conducted in Guadalupe, California, USA, during May 2008. It is the result of a cross-pollination between the variety 'Pink Lace', as the female parent, and the variety Grande Parade 'Arcade', as the male parent. 'Balbalmurp' was selected in September 2009 for its compact plant growth habit. Since that time, it has been asexually propagated using vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Balbalmurp' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring and summer of 2014 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 4.4 litre pots on May 10, 2014. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of the candidate variety on July 28, 2014 and from 10 plants or parts of plants of the reference variety on August 30, 2014. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balbalmurp' with reference variety 'Pardon My Purple'

Plant width (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

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Monarda: 'Balbalmurp' (left) with reference variety 'Pardon My Purple' (right)

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Monarda: 'Balbalmurp' (left) with reference variety 'Pardon My Purple' (right)