Details
| Full name | Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) ‘Sunshine Charm’. |
| Name status | Accepted, the valid name for a unique cultivar. Established with a description by Egger (2010, 2011). Because it is a legal protection registration, the name must be permanently accepted over any other (Brickell et al., 2016, Arts. 11.3, 11.4). |
| Origins | Seedling from a planned cross between seed parent Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) ‘Sweet Kate’ and an unnamed pollen parent (Egger, 2010). |
| Classification | Like other hardy garden hybrids, it is now placed in the Andersoniana Group. These hybrids are sometimes mislabelled as Tradescantia virginiana or the invalid botanical hybrid Tradescantia × andersoniana. |
| Legal protection | Patented in the USA (Egger, 2010). Previously protected by plant breeder’s rights in the EU, but surrendered in 2021 (Egger, 2011). |
| Availability | Available from many nurseries. |
Description
Described by Egger (2010), with refernce to the RHS Colour Chart.
| Cutivar group | Tradescantia Andersoniana Group. |
| Growth habit | Excellent vigour. 45cm high x 55cm spread. |
| Foliage | Stem is hairless, 1.2cm wide. Internodes are 8-18cm long, strong yellow green (144A). Leaves are 32cm long and 3.5cm wide, hairless except for the margin near the base. Colour varies with light, from brilliant yellow (13B) to strong yellow green (144A). |
| Flowers | Flower stalks are 20mm long and 1.2mm wide, hairless, deep reddish purple (77A) to deep purplish red (61A). Flower buds are 12mm long and 7mm wide, hairy, strong yellow green (145A) to moderate yellow green (148B). Sepals are hairy outside and hairless inside, strong yellow green (144A) at the base to moderate red (185B) at the top. Flowers are 43mm across. Petals are hairless, slightly pleated at the centre, strong purple (82A inside and 82B outside). Stamen filaments and style are strong purple (82A). Anthers are brilliant yellow (11A). Stigma is pale yellow (158A). |
| Comparisons | More compact habit and pink flower compared to Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) ‘Sweet Kate’. |
References
Egger, J. N. (2010, November 16). Tradescantia plant named ‘Sunshine Charm’ [US plant patent PP21,480 P2]. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Internet Archive link.
Egger, J. N. (2011, February 7). Tradescantia virginiana ‘Sunshine Charm’ [EU plant breeder’s rights application 20091402]. Registration document link.
Brickell, C. D., Alexander, C., Cubey, J. J., David, J. C., Hoffman, M. H. A., Leslie, A. C., Malécot, V., Jin, X. (2016). International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. PDF link.