Pink Lemonade

Baptisia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pink Truffles'

Summary: The plants of 'Pink Lemonade' are taller than those of 'Pink Truffles'. The inner side of the corolla standard for 'Pink Lemonade' is yellow green fading to violet while that of 'Pink Truffles' is violet blue. The outer side of the corolla standard for 'Pink Lemonade' is yellow green fading to light violet blue while that of 'Pink Truffles' is violet blue. The inner side of the corolla wing for 'Pink Lemonade' is yellow green fading to light violet while that of 'Pink Truffles' is violet blue. The outer side of the corolla wing for 'Pink Lemonade' is yellow green, fading to light violet blue while that of 'Pink Truffles' is violet blue.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial, upright-bushy growth habit, medium degree of branching

STEM: light green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak to medium degree of glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium thickness, smooth

LEAF: alternate arrangement, trifoliate type, oblanceolate, obtuse apex, attenuate base, entire margin, weak glaucosity on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, light green on upper and lower side, no variegation, petiole present

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: raceme type, terminally positioned, erect attitude
COROLLA: partially fused arrangement of lobes, medium length, medium width, papilionaceous, absent or very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner and outer side
STANDARD: inner side yellow green (RHS 2C) fading to violet (RHS N77D), outer side yellow to yellow green (RHS 2B/C) fading to light violet blue (RHS 84C/D) and further fading to light yellow brown (RHS 158A)
WING: inner side yellow to yellow green (RHS 2B/C) fading to violet (lighter than RHS N77D), outer side yellow to yellow green (RHS 2B/C) fading to light violet blue (RHS 84C/D)
KEEL: yellow green (RHS 1C) fading to yellow green (RHS 2D)

FLOWERING PERIOD: short to medium length, flowers once early in the season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pink Lemonade' originated as a result of a cross made between 'Red Riding Hood', as the female parent, and an unnamed Baptisia alba or Baptisia alba hybrid, as the male parent, occurring in 2009 in Waseca, Minnesota, USA. Resulting seeds were sown in Zeeland, Michigan, USA in 2009. The breeding method was recurrent selection with initial plant selections made in 2012, based on flower colour and growth habit. The variety was initially propagated by shoot tip cuttings in spring 2013.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Pink Lemonade' was conducted in a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric during the spring of 2019 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The plants were grown in 23 cm round pots, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Pink Lemonade' with reference variety 'Pink Truffles'

Plant height (excluding flowering stem) (cm)

Plant height (including flowering stem) (cm)

Colour of corolla standard (RHS)

Colour of corolla wing (RHS)

Colour of corolla keel (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Baptisia: 'Pink Lemonade' (left) with reference variety 'Pink Truffles' (right)