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Blizzard

Pearlbush

Denomination: 'Blizzard'
Trade name: Snow Day Blizzard
Botanical Name: Exochorda
Applicant/Holder: North Carolina State University
Office of Technology Transfer
1021 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina
27606
United States of America
Breeder: Thomas Green Ranney, North Carolina State University, Arden, United States of America
Agent in Canada: BioFlora Inc.
38723 Fingal Line
R.R. #1
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5P 3S5
Canada
Tel: 519-317-7511
Application Date: 2010-08-10
Application Number: 10-7053
Grant of Rights Date: 2014-01-09
Certificate Number: 4690
Date rights surrendered: 2017-01-09

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Niagara' (Snow Day Surprise)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'Blizzard' is longer and wider than the leaf blade of 'Niagara'. The inflorescence of 'Blizzard' is longer than the inflorescence of 'Niagara'. The flower of 'Blizzard' is larger in diameter than the flower of 'Niagara'.

Description:

PLANT: broad upright growth habit, sparse to medium branching density
STEM: medium green with dark red at shoot tips, medium to thick, absent or very sparse pubescence, rounded in cross section, smooth bark texture, absent or very weak glaucosity, medium number of lenticels, no thorns or spines
BUD: small to medium size, reddish purple, ovoid shape, pointed apex, scales small to medium in size

LEAF: obovate, apex rounded with a cuspidate tip, cuneate base, margin entire with some dentate incisions, no lobing, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper side, medium to dense pubescence on lower side, upper side light green in spring, medium green at mid-season, no variegation, weak margin waviness, petiole with medium anthocyanin colouration

FLOWER: raceme type inflorescence, 5-6 petals, upper and lower side white (RHS 155C).

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Blizzard' originated from a cross pollination conducted in the spring of 2000 at North Carolina State University in Mills River, North Carolina, USA. The cross was between the female parent plant Exochorda serratifolia and the male parent Exochorda ×macrantha 'The Bride'. The resultant F1 seedlings were intercrossed in the spring of 2001. The resultant seeds were sown and a single F2 seedling was selected in the spring of 2002. The new variety 'Blizzard' was selected based on having compact rounded growth habit and numerous large flowers. The first asexual propagation by stem cuttings was conducted in the summer of 2003 at Mountain Horticultural Research Station in Mills River, North Carolina, USA.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Blizzard' were conducted in an outdoor container trial during the spring/summer of 2012 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from quick turn liners and planted into 13.2 litre containers in June 2011. The plants were overwintered in a polyhouse and moved outdoors in April 2012. Observations and measurements on flower and bud characteristics were taken from 10 plants of each variety on March 28, 2012. Observations and measurements on the remaining characteristics were taken on June 4, 2012. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.


Comparison tables for 'Blizzard' with reference variety 'Niagara'

Leaf blade length (cm)

  'Blizzard' 'Niagara'
mean 6.2 5.4
std. deviation 0.27 0.32

Leaf blade width (cm)

  'Blizzard' 'Niagara'
mean 4.1 2.2
std. deviation 0.31 0.25

Inflorescence length (cm)

  'Blizzard' 'Niagara'
mean 8.3 6.4
std. deviation 0.9 0.9

Flower diameter (cm)

  'Blizzard' 'Niagara'
mean 5.6 4.2
std. deviation 0.33 0.54

Colour of petal (RHS)

  'Blizzard' 'Niagara'
upper side 155C NN155B
lower side 155C NN155B

Click on image for larger view
Blizzard
Pearlbush: 'Blizzard' (left) with reference variety 'Niagara' (right)

Click on image for larger view
Blizzard
Pearlbush: 'Blizzard' (left) with reference variety 'Niagara' (right)

Click on image for larger view
Blizzard
Pearlbush: 'Blizzard' (left) with reference variety 'Niagara' (right)

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