Key to Osteospermum cultivars grown in the RHS trial at Wisley, 1994 - 1995
| 1a | Leaves variegated | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| b | Leaves not variegated | 6 |
| 2a | Leaves with central yellow variegation | 'Giles Gilbey' |
| b | Leaves with marginal variegation | 3 |
| 3a | Flowers white | 4 |
| b | Flowers pink | 5 |
| 4a | Leaves with cream-white margin | 'Silver Sparkler' |
| b | Leaves with yellow margin | 'Gold Sparkler' |
| 5a | Plant erect; marginal variegation broad; ray florets pale orange on reverse | 'Bodegas Pink' |
| b | Plants prostrate, marginal variegation narrow; ray florets red-maroon on reverse | 'Gweek Variegated' |
| 6a | Flowers yellow | 7 |
| b | Flowers not yellow | 9 |
| 7a | Flowers bright yellow; leaves deeply toothed | 'Zulu' |
| b | Flowers paler yellow; leaves shallow toothed | 8 |
| 8a | Flowers pale yellow; plant erect to 40cm tall in flower | 'Buttermilk' |
| b | Flowers white flushed yellow; plant procumbent to 35cm tall in flower | 'Cream Cup' |
| 9a | Plant decumbent; leaves somewhat fleshy, glossy, leaves type 3 | 10 |
| b | Plant erect or if decumbent, leaves not as above | 11 |
| 10a | Flowers pink | 'Tresco Pink' |
| b | Flowers purple | 'Nairobi Purple' |
| 11a | Rays crimped or spooned | 12 |
| b | Rays not crimped | 18 |
| 12a | Flower white | 13 |
| b | Flower pink or pink and white | 15 |
| 13a | Rays crimped; flowers to 7cm diameter | 'Sunny Boy' |
| b | Rays spooned; flowers to 5cm diameter | 14 |
| 14a | Plant decumbent to 25cm tall in flower; flowers to 6cm diameter | 'Croftway Silverspoons' |
| b | Plant erect to 35cm tall in flower; flower to 5cm diameter | 'Whirligig' |
| 15a | Rays white but pink at tip and base; reverse bronzed purple | 'Cannington John' |
| b | Rays pink | 16 |
| 16a | Rays crimped; flower to 7cm diameter; foliage to 25cm tall | 'Sunny Girl' |
| b | Rays spooned; flowers to 6cm diameter; plant to 40cm tall in flower | 17 |
| 17a | Rays 13-18, not obviously white at constriction | 'Pink Whirls' |
| b | Rays 19-23, noticeably white at constriction | 'Croftway Velvetspoons' |
| 18a | Flowers white | 19 |
| b | Flowers pink to purple | 23 |
| 19a | Rays white with blue grey reverse | 'Blue Streak' |
| b | Rays white with purplish-pink or yellow reverse | 20 |
| 20a | Reverse of rays purple or pinkish purple | 21 |
| Reverse of rays orange or yellow-green | 22 | |
| 21a | Flower to 10cm diameter; plant erect to 60cm tall in flower | 'Giant' |
| b | Flower to 7cm diameter; plant procumbent under 30cm tall in flower | 'Cornish Carpet' |
| 22a | Flower to 6cm diameter; rays yellow-orange striped green reverse; plant compact | 'Weetwood' |
| b | Flowers to 9cm diameter; rays orange reverse; plant erect | 'Cannington Joyce' |
| 23a | Leaf, including leaf stalk, less than 5 times as long as wide, type 2 | 24 |
| b | Leaf, including leaf stalk, over 5 times as long as wide, type 1 | 30 |
| 24a | Flowering stems red and green | 25 |
| b | Flowering stems green | 27 |
| 25a | Rays paler towards the base | 'Cannington Katrina' |
| b | Rays more or less same colour throughout their length | 26 |
| 26a | Older flowers slightly paler than younger flowers; disc blue | 'Chris Brickell' |
| b | Older flowers distinctly darker than younger flowers; disc violet |
Description of cultivars of Osteopermum grown in the RHS trial 1994-1995
Flower colour is identified from the RHS Colour Chart.
'African Queen' see 'Nairobi Purple'
Height of foliage 10cm, height including flowers 25cm. Leaves type 1. Stems green. Flower head 5.5cm diameter; ray florets 14-18, purplish pink (77B), reverse deep pink (50B) with purplish pink (77B) margins and darker lines; disc yellow with small blue centre.
(Compare with 'Blackthorn Seedling')
'Blackthorn Seedling' AGM (H3-4) 1995 *
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 40cm. Leaves type 1. Stems green. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 18-20, pinkish purple (72C-72A), reverse bronzed purplish pink (74C) with two very fine green parallel veins, tip almost black, base white; disc yellow (14A) with bright blue (96A) centre, outer disc florets with dark brown tips. Raised by R White, Blackthorns Nursery.
(Compare with 'Ballyrogan Pink')
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 25cm. Leaves type 2. Stems green slightly flushed red. Flower head 7.5cm diameter; ray florets 18-22, white, reverse white with central band of grey blue (102D) and a silvery sheen; disc mid blue.
(Compare with 'Croftway Blush' and 'Sunny Boy')
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 40cm. Leaves type 2, green (137D) with broad marginal yellow (10C) variegation. Stems green. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 14-18, purplish pink (78D), reverse pale orange (24C) to yellowish brown becoming purplish pink (77C) towards margins; disc blue. Introduced by Hopleys Nursery in 1988.
Height of foliage 35cm, height including flowers 40cm. Leaves type 2, distinctly toothed. Stems green flushed red. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 14-20, yellow (13C) becoming paler at base, reverse greyed yellow (163B) with reddish brown (166B) central band; disc brown with blue tinge. Received from USA by Hopleys Nursery via Dr Smart in 1980.
(Compare with 'Cream Cup' and 'Zulu')
Height of foliage 12cm, height including flowers 20cm, decumbent to erect. Leaves type 2 with distinct teeth. Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 16-21, spooned, white with purplish pink (77B) at tip and base, reverse bronzed purple (77A) with paler purple (80C) margins; disc blue. Raised by John Lanyon, introduced by Roy Cheek.
(Compare with 'Cannington Roy')
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 40cm. Leaves type 2, but with fewer teeth, fresh green. Stems green. Flower head 9cm diameter; ray florets 16-18, very white, flushed purple pink (77B) at extreme base, reverse pale orange (26C) to orangey brown (171A) particularly at tip; disc pale yellow with centre tinged blue. Raised in 1985 by Roy Cheek and Peter Elliman.
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 35cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2 with few teeth. Stems green flushed red. Flower head 7.5cm diameter; ray florets 18-19, pinkish purple (84B) becoming paler towards base, reverse dark purplish red (59C) with paler purplish pink (77C) margins; disc mid-blue. Raised in 1984 by Roy Cheek and Peter Elliman.
(Compare with 'Chris Brickell')
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 30cm, decumbent to erect. Leaves type 2. Stems green. Flower head 7.5cm diameter; ray florets 16-21, white, purplish pink (77B) at tips and base, becoming paler (77C) on aging, reverse purplish red (186A-70B), with blue mauve (near 84A) margins; disc deep blue. Raised in 1976 by Roy Cheek.
(Compare with 'Cannington John')
caulescens see 'White Pim'
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 40cm. Leaves type 2. Stems green with dark red flush. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 13-15, pinkish purple (84B) becoming paler towards base, older flowers fading to a paler colour, reverse pale purple (87B) with violet-blue (92B) base and margins; disc mid-blue.
(Compare with 'Cannington Katrina' and 'Sunny Girl')
Height of foliage 30cm, height including foliage 35cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2. Stems green. Flower head 9cm diameter; ray florets 16-20, white flushed yellow (8A) at tips, reverse rich brown (175B) with yellow (9B) margins; disc yellow with pale blue centre.
(Compare with 'Buttermilk' and 'Zulu')
'Croftway Blush' (syn. 'Blush')
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 30cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2. Stems green. Flower head 8cm diameter; ray florets 17-20, white flushed pale pinkish blue (85C) at base, reverse bright purplish pink (68A-58D) with pale blue lines and pale blue (91C) margins; disc mid-blue. Introduced by Croftway Nurseries in 1991.
(Compare with 'Blue Streak' and 'Sunny Boy')
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 25cm, somewhat decumbent. Leaves type 2-3 with large teeth. Stems green. Flower head 5cm diameter; ray florets 15-20, pinkish purple (84B) fading towards the base, reverse reddish brown (183B), lighter towards the base and margins yellow-orange (23C); disc mid-blue. Raised and introduced by Croftway Nurseries.
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 25cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2-3. Stems green slightly flushed red. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 16-19, spooned, white flushed light violet (91A) at base on aging, reverse dull pinkish red (186B-78D) bluer towards base; disc blue. Introduced by Croftway Nurseries in 1991
(Compare with 'Whirligig')
Height of foliage 35cm, height including flowers 40cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2-3. Stems green. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 19-23, spooned, purplish pink (77B) fading to white at constrictions, reverse purple (77A) margins purplish pink (77C); disc blue. Introduced by Croftway Nurseries in 1991.
(Compare with 'Pink Whirls')
O. ecklonis var. prostratum see 'White Pim'
Height of foliage 50cm, height including flowers 60cm, erect. Leaves type 2 with large distinct teeth. Stems green flushed dark red. Flower head 10cm diameter; ray florets 17-18, white flushed mauve (84A) at extreme base, reverse violet (87B) at tips fading to white lined with blue; disc mid-blue.
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 30cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2-3, with golden yellow (151A) central variegation, edged green (137A). Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 15-18, purplish pink (77C), reverse reddish purple (70A) with lilac blue (85B) margins; disc blue.
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 30cm. Leaves type 2, yellowish green (146A) with marginal golden yellow (9C) variegation. Stems green. Flower head 6.5cm diameter; ray florets 21-24, white flushed violet (86C) at extreme base, reverse very pale silvery blue (97D) with blue lines; disc deep blue.
(sport of 'Silver Sparkler')
Height of foliage 10cm, height including flowers 15cm, prostrate. Leaves type 2 with large distinct teeth, yellowish green (146B) with narrow marginal greenish yellow (8B) variegation. Stems green. Flower head 5cm diameter; ray florets 16-17, purplish pink (78C-D), reverse maroon (184A) fading with age; disc deep purple.
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 50cm. Leaves type 1. Stems green. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 16-18, purplish pink (78A), white band 5mm wide at base, reverse bronzed purplish pink (78D) with thin moderate olive green (137A) midrib and black tip; disc yellow with dark blue (103B) centre. Raised by Hopleys Nursery in 1983.
'Jackarandum' AGM (H3-4) 1995 *
Height 40cm. Leaves type 1. Flower head 7cm diameter, ray florets purplish pink (77D/78C), reverse very pale blue (76D) streaked yellowish green (160A) and grey green (197A), tip brown (177A), disc yellow (17C) centre paler with some disc florets tipped dark brown.
(Compare with 'Merriments Joy' and 'Stardust')
Height of foliage 35cm, height including flowers 40cm, erect. Leaves type 2. Stems red. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 12-16, pinkish purple (84B) aging darker to red purple (80B), reverse dark purple (79B), margins purplish pink (77C); disc deep violet. Raised by Peter Elliman in 1985, introduced by Roy Cheek.
(Compare with 'Nairobi Purple')
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 50cm, erect. Leaves type 1. Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 18-21, purplish pink (77C), aging to paler (84C), reverse bronzed pink (164C) with green lines, margined violet (84C); disc yellow with blue centre.
(Compare with 'Langtrees')
Height of foliage 40cm, height including flowers 60cm. Leaves type 2 with fewer teeth. Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 16-17, soft lilac pink (75C-D), reverse brown-orange (176C), margins paler (173D) with brown tips; disc yellow with pale blue centre.
'Lady Leitrim' (syn 'Paleface')
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 50cm. Leaves type 1. Stems green. Flower head 6.5cm diameter; ray florets 19-21, white, becoming pink on aging, tip and base flushed purplish pink (78C), reverse bronze tinged purplish pink (78C) and striped green (148B); disc yellow with purplish blue (96A) centre.
(Compare with 'Langtrees')
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 45cm. Leaves type 1. Stems green. Flower head 6.5cm diameter; ray florets 20-21, purplish pink (77B-C), reverse orange brown (165B-164B-162A) lined green (137B) extreme margins purplish pink (78D) giving overall bronze effect; disc yellow (15C), with bright blue (102B) centre.
(Compare with 'Killerton Pink' and 'Lady Leitrim')
'Merriments Joy' AGM (H3-4) 1995 *
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 55cm. Leaves type 1. Stems green flushed red. Flower head 6cm diameter; ray florets 18-19, vivid pinkish purple (78A), reverse a metallic pale purplish pink (78C) lined blue and flushed blue towards the base; disc yellow.
(Compare with 'Stardust' and 'Jackarandum')
Height of foliage 35cm, height including flowers 45cm, decumbent. Leaves type 3. Stems red to green. Flower head 6.5cm diameter; ray florets 14-17, red purple (80B), reverse greyed purple (186A), lined in deep purple; disc purple. Not consistently free-flowering.
The RHS Advisory Panel on Nomenclature and Taxonomy established that 'Nairobi Purple' has precedence over 'African Queen', 'Peggyi', 'Port Wine', 'Tresco Peggy' and 'Tresco Purple'. Introduced by C Brickell and T Dorrien-Smith c. 1972.
'Peggyi' see 'Nairobi Purple'
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 40cm. Leaves type 2. Stems green. Flower head 5.5cm diameter; ray florets 13-18. spooned, pinkish purple (81B to 87C), reverse purple (79D) or paler near violet blue (90D) to constriction, lavender blue (85A) to base lined blue; disc blue. Introduced from New Zealand in 1983 to complement 'Whirligig'.
(Compare with 'Croftway Velvetspoons')
'Port Wine' see 'Nairobi Purple'
'Silver Sparkler' AGM (H1+3) 1993
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 25cm, erect. Leaves type 2, green (137C) with marginal cream (4C) variegation. Stems green. Flower head 6.5cm diameter; ray florets 19-23, white flushed violet (86C) at extreme base, reverse pale blue (106D) with silvery sheen, lined pale blue; disc deep blue. Introduced in 1989 by Christopher Fairweather from a private garden in Nairobi.
(sported 'Gold Sparkler')
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 45cm, erect. Leaves type 1. Stems green flushed red. Flower head 6cm diameter held erect above foliage on robust stems; ray florets 18-20, purplish pink (72A) becoming dark red (59A) at base, reverse bronzed reddish brown (183C) streaked brownish yellow (162A) with pale purple (75B) margins; disc over 14mm yellow with greyish blue (202C) centre.
A seedling of O. jucundum raised in 1985 by Mrs P G Perry, Perry's Plants, Yorkshire. Introduced by Pride of Place Plants. This plant is protected by Plant Variety Rights.
(Compare with 'Merriments Joy')
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 35cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2-3. Stems green slightly flushed red. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 18-21, crimped, white flushed purple (79C) at extreme base, reverse pink purple (78B) with silvery sheen; disc mid blue. Raised by Dr Linda E Noack, Denmark.
(Compare with 'Blue Streak' and 'Croftway Blush')
Height of foliage 25cm, height including flowers 30cm, decumbent. Leaves type 2 with large distinct teeth. Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 17-20, crimped, purplish pink (81D) becoming paler towards base, reverse purplish red (70A) with purplish pink (76A) margins; disc pale blue. Raised by Dr Linda E Noack, Denmark.
(Compare with 'Chris Brickell')
Height of foliage 15cm, height including flowers 25cm, decumbent. Leaves type 3. Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 15-20, purplish pink (78C), reverse brownish red (185A) becoming greyish red (182B) at margins; disc purplish blue.
'Tresco Peggy' see 'Nairobi Purple'
'Tresco Purple' see 'Nairobi Purple'
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 50cm. Leaves type 1-2 with few teeth. Stems green. Flower head 6.5cm diameter; ray florets 18-21, average colour purplish pink (77B), reverse greyed purplish pink (186C) with green lines; disc yellow with mid-blue centre.
The colours of the flowers change as they age so that the flowers on a single plant show a wide variation in colour.
(Compare with 'Langtrees')
Height of foliage 20cm, height including flowers 35cm, compact. Leaves type 1 with few large teeth. Stems green. Flower head 6cm diameter, ray florets 17-18, white slightly flushed pale purple (76C) at extreme base, reverse yellowish orange (163C) striped silvery pale green (139D) with white margins; disc yellow with blue centre.
Height of foliage 30cm, height including flowers 35cm. Leaves type 2. Stems green. Flower head 5cm diameter, ray florets 18-21, spooned, white, reverse purplish pink (84A) becoming paler towards base; disc blue. Introduced from New Zealand as `Tauranga' in 1979, renamed `Whirligig' in 1981.
(Compare with 'Croftway Silverspoons')
Height of foliage 10cm, height including flowers 20cm, low growing. Leaves type 2 with prominent teeth. Stems green. Flower head 7cm diameter; ray florets 15-20, pure white with purple (77A) flush at extreme base, reverse dull pink (63C) striped purple; disc purplish blue.
The exact status of this plant has been uncertain and it may be found in gardens as O. caulescens and O. ecklonis var. prostratum. It is thought to be a hybrid between O. caulescens and O. fruticosum.
Height 40cm, erect. Leaves relatively small, dark green and deeply cut. Flower head 6.5cm diameter, bright yellow with slightly darker yellow margins, reverse yellow with distinct broad reddish brown central strip; disc yellow with protruding reddish brown stigmas and stamens.
(Compare with 'Buttermilk' and 'Cream Cup')