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A remarkable variegated seedling Acanthus 'Summer Beauty'. It producers bright pink flower spikes and pure white flowers
and is more of a 'standing-out' than a 'fitting-in' sort of plant. I was worried when I got it that it might not be very strong in the garden, so I am pleased to see it return with vigour this summer. Raised by Janet N. Egger in Wilsonville, Oregon. She used pollen from A. mollis 'Tasmanian Angel' to fertilise the flower of A. 'Summer Beauty'. This was the result, larger growing and stronger than 'Tasmanian Angel' which has a reputation for being rather feeble when planted out. Patented by Terra Nova Nurseries. I got it from Cotswold Garden Flowers and the label says: "Bold dark green foliage with white foaming markings particularly early in the season, pink kissed white flower heads on clean pale pink stems. Jun-Aug, foliage 60cm, flowers 1.5m. In pictures it look sumptuous." The patent says: "The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Acanthus, given the name. Whitewater. Acanthus is in the family Acanthaceae. This new variety originated from a planned cross between Acanthusx'Summer Beauty (an unpatented plant) as the seed parent and Acanthus mollis TASMANIAN ANGEL(R) (an unpatented plant) as the pollen parent. Compared to the seed parent, AcanthusXSummer Beauty, the new cultivar has variegated leaves and pink tinted flowers and bracts rather than unvariegated leaves and white flowers with purple bracts. Compared to the pollen parent, Acanthus mollis TASMANIAN ANGEL(R) the new cultivar has a much more vigor, longer leaves, and taller flowers. While Acanthus mollis TASMANIAN ANGEL(R) is a very nice variegated plant, it does not have very much vigor. It often fails to return after one winter when grown outside. In USDA Zone 8 it fails to thrive. Acanthusx'Summer Beauty has very good hardiness and heat tolerance and grows as well in the southern US as in Oregon. This new Acanthus has the good characteristics of both parents and it is distinct in its combination of variegated leaves and excellent vigor. " |
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| 19th February 2012 | ||
