Opening Act Blush

Phlox

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Minnie Pearl' and 'Opening Act White'

Summary: The plants of 'Opening Act Blush' are shorter than those of 'Minnie Pearl' and shorter and narrower than those of 'Opening Act White'. The stem of 'Opening Act Blush' is medium green while it is dark green for 'Minnie Pearl'. The leaf blade of 'Opening Act Blush' is wider than that of both reference varieties. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'Opening Act Blush' is yellow green while the leaf blade of 'Minnie Pearl' is dark green. The plants of 'Opening Act Blush' flower later than those of 'Minnie Pearl'. The inflorescence of 'Opening Act Blush' is narrower than that of both reference varieties. The corolla of 'Opening Act Blush' is smaller in diameter than that of 'Minnie Pearl'. The inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Opening Act Blush' is violet with a blue pink eye while the inner side of the corolla lobe of both reference varieties is white with no corolla eye. The corolla tube of the flower of 'Opening Act Blush' is short while that of 'Minnie Pearl' is of medium length. The corolla tube of the flower of 'Opening Act Blush' is violet while that of the reference varieties is light blue violet.

Description:

STEM: medium thickness at middle third, medium green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium length internode at middle third

LEAF: moderately elongated length to width ratio, broadest part towards base, flat in cross-section, acuminate to acute apex, no variegation, no anthocyanin colouration on upper side, absent or weak undulation of margin, upper side is yellow green

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: early to mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: many flowers
PEDICEL: short to medium length, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
PERIANTH: present
CALYX: short, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA LOBE: medium length, medium width, obovate
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): violet (RHS 75A), no secondary colour
COROLLA EYE: blue pink (RHS N74D)
COROLLA TUBE: short, small diameter directly below lobes, violet (RHS 77B-C)
ANTHER: light yellow
STYLE: light green and purple red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Opening Act Blush' was bred and developed by the breeder, Hans Hansen, in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. It originated from a line cross conducted in the summer of 2011 between the female parent variety 'Minnie Pearl' and male parent variety 'Coral'. The variety 'Opening Act Blush' was selected in the spring of 2012 based on its hardy, vigorous, short and compact growth habit, numerous highly branched stems, bright green powdery mildew resistant foliage, early season flowering and fragrant, lilac lavender long blooming flowers with excellent flower coverage. 'Opening Act Blush' was first asexually reproduced by stem cuttings in 2013.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Opening Act Blush' was conducted outdoors under a shade cloth during the summer of 2018 at Variety Rights Management, in Oxford Station, Ontario. There were 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. Dormant bare-root divisions were transplanted into 21 cm pots and spaced 30 cm apart on May 2, 2018. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on July 12, 2018. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Opening Act Blush' with reference varieties 'Minnie Pearl' and 'Opening Act White'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Inflorescence width (cm)

Corolla diameter across lobes (cm)

Colour of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Phlox: 'Opening Act Blush' (left) with reference varieties 'Minnie Pearl' (centre) and 'Opening Act White' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Phlox: 'Opening Act Blush' (left) with reference varieties 'Minnie Pearl' (centre) and 'Opening Act White' (right)