SMNTOBAB

Cedar

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Anna Van Vloten' (Anna's Magic Ball)

Summary: The plants of 'SMNTOBAB' are larger than those of 'Anna Van Vloten'. The plants of 'SMNTOBAB' are in the medium green colour group whereas those of 'Anna Van Vloten' are in the yellow green colour group. The branches and branchlets of 'SMNTOBAB' are longer than those of 'Anna Van Vloten'. In the spring, the upper side of the leaf of the outermost branchlets of 'SMNTOBAB' are mainly light green with light brown to medium yellow brown tips whereas those of 'Anna Van Vloten' are mainly medium yellow with medium yellow brown tips. In the summer, the upper side of the leaf of the outermost branchlets of 'SMNTOBAB' are dark green whereas those of 'Anna Van Vloten' are medium yellow orange on the top half of the plant and medium green on the bottom half of the plant. In the summer, the lower side of the leaf of the outermost branchlets of 'SMNTOBAB' are medium green whereas those of 'Anna Van Vloten' are medium yellow orange on the top half of the plant and medium green on the bottom half of the plant.

Description:

PLANT: evergreen, weak fragrance, globose shape, dense foliage, medium green colour group

BRANCH: many, erect attitude, medium stiffness, reddish brown when aged
BRANCHLETS OF FIRST ORDER: dense, light brown stem at base to light green towards tip, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
BRANCHLETS OF PENULTIMATE AND LAST ORDER: dense

LEAF: decussate arrangement around axis of branchlet, linear shape, acute apex, entire margin
LEAF FROM OUTERMOST BRANCHLETS (UPPER SIDE): mainly light green (RHS 151A) with light brown to medium yellow brown (RHS 164A-B) tips in spring, dark green (RHS 137A) in summer, dark green (RHS 137A) in winter
LEAF FROM OUTERMOST BRANCHLETS (LOWER SIDE): mainly light green (RHS 144B and 151A) in spring, medium green (RHS 143C) in summer and winter

Origin & Breeding History: 'SMNTOBAB' originated from an open-pollinated cross that occurred in Grand Haven, Michigan, USA in 2003. The cross was between the female parent variety 'Brandon' and pollen from an unnamed male parent. The new variety was selected in 2007 based on plant growth habit, vigour and foliage colour. Asexual reproduction of 'SMNTOBAB' was first conducted by softwood cutting in 2007 in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'SMNTOBAB' was conducted as an outdoor irrigated container trial during the spring of 2022 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were transplanted into a 3.8 litre pots in the summer of 2021. Observations and measurements were taken on July 18, 2022. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SMNTOBAB' with reference variety 'Anna Van Vloten'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Branch length (cm)

Length of branchlet of the first order (cm)

Length of branchlet of the penultimate and last order (cm)

Colour of leaf from outermost branchlets (RHS)

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Cedar: 'SMNTOBAB' (left) with reference variety 'Anna van Vloten' (right)

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Cedar: 'SMNTOBAB' (left) with reference variety 'Anna van Vloten' (right)

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Cedar: 'SMNTOBAB' (left) with reference variety 'Anna van Vloten' (right)