Mahogany Monster

Heuchera

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fire Chief' and 'Cherry Truffles'

Summary: The plants of 'Mahogany Monster' are larger than those of 'Fire Chief.' Colour one on the upper side of the young leaf blade of 'Mahogany Monster' is dark purple red while that of 'Fire Chief' is dark purple red to medium brown purple. The petiole of 'Mahogany Monster' is longer than the petiole of 'Fire Chief'. The fully expanded leaf blade of 'Mahogany Monster' is larger than that of 'Fire Chief'. The length to width ratio of the leaf blade of 'Mahogany Monster' is very slightly to slightly elongated while that of 'Fire Chief' is roundish to very slightly elongated. The leaf blade of 'Mahogany Monster' has a medium degree of undulation of the margin and absent or very weak glossiness while that of 'Cherry Truffles' has a strong degree of undulation of the margin and weak glossiness. The flowering stem of 'Mahogany Monster' is longer than those of the reference varieties. The flowering part on the flowering stem of 'Mahogany Monster' is longer than those of the reference varieties. The length to width ratio of the flowering part of the flowering stem of 'Mahogany Monster' is strongly elongated while that of 'Fire Chief' is slightly to moderately elongated and that of 'Cherry Truffles' is moderately elongated. The colour of the flower bud of 'Mahogany Monster' ranges between dark blue pink and medium blue pink while that of 'Fire Chief' ranges between medium blue pink and light blue pink. The colour of the outer surface of the flower of 'Mahogany Monster' is white while that of 'Cherry Truffles' is light blue pink.

Description:

PLANT: medium to dense foliage

PETIOLE: dark purple red (RHS 187B), sparse pubescence
YOUNG LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): colour one is dark purple red (RHS 187B/C) covering a large area distributed throughout in a solid or nearly solid pattern
LEAF BLADE: length to width ratio is very slightly to slightly elongated, rounded apex, medium to deep lobing, medium number of shallow indentations of margin, medium undulation of margin, weak rugosity
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very weak glossiness, absent or very sparse pubescence, colour one is between dark brown purple (RHS N186C) and dark purple red (RHS N186D) covering a large area distributed throughout in a solid or nearly solid pattern
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): dark purple red (RHS 187B), absent or very sparse pubescence

TIME OF FLOWERING: begins mid-season
FLOWERING STEM: upright attitude, main colour is dark brown (RHS 187A), length to width ratio of flowering part is strongly elongated, medium density of flowers
FLOWER BUD: ranging between dark blue pink (RHS 64C) and medium blue pink (RHS 64D)
FLOWER: outwards to semi-downwards attitude, short, narrow, white (RHS NN155D) outer side

Origin & Breeding History: 'Mahogany Monster' originated from a controlled cross between two proprietary seedlings known as 13-764-2 and 13-700-1 conducted at Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA on March 31, 2015. From the resulting progeny, seeds were collected and sown by the breeder, Hans Hansen, later in 2015. Initial selections made in 2016 were based on distinct and colourful plant foliage. 'Mahogany Monster' was first asexually propagated using shoot tip tissue culture in the fall of 2016.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Mahogany Monster' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2022 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each of the candidate and reference varieties. The plants were grown in 16 cm pots with 40 cm spacing between pots under a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric. The 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. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on Student's t-tests.

Comparison tables for 'Mahogany Monster' with reference varieties 'Fire Chief' and 'Cherry Truffles'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Colour one of young leaf blade (RHS)

Petiole length (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Flowering stem length (cm)

Length of flowering part of flowering stem (cm)

Colour of flower bud (RHS)

Colour of flower (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Heuchera: 'Mahogany Monster' (left) with reference varieties 'Fire Chief' (centre) and 'Cherry Truffles' (right)