plant named ‘Duevilicha’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevilicha’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; semi-double purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duevilicha’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duevilicha’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants with dark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0138-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-22-09, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duevilicha’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duevilicha’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

• • 1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.
  • 2. Vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely basal branching habit.
  • 4. Dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.
  • 5. Freely flowering habit.
  • 6. Semi-double purple-colored flowers.
  • 7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored flowers and plants of the male parent selection have light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium zonale ‘Calypso’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,378. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Calypso’ in growth habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous than plants of ‘Calypso’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duevilicha’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants had been growing for 13 weeks when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duevilicha’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0138-001, not patented.
    • Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-22-09, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.
    • Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit with about three basal branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.
    • Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 25 cm.
    • Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 22 cm.
    • Plant width.—About 23 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 1.25 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.
    • Length.—About 7.4 cm.
    • Width.—About 8.8 cm.
    • Shape.—Reniform.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Cordate.
    • Margin.—Crenate.
    • Venation pattern.—Palmate.
    • Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.
    • Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 144A.
    • Zonation pattern.—Distinct. Distance from margin: About 7 mm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Color: Close to 147A.
    • Petiole.—Length: About 8.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong peduncles; flowers face upright to outward.
    • Fragrance.—Not detected.
    • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 20 flowers and flower buds per umbel.
    • Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin flowering about eight weeks after planting.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.
    • Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.
    • Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 66A.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower: About seven or eight. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 74A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 73A. Fully expanded, upper surface: Close to 74A. Fully expanded, lower surface: Close to 74B to 74C; color becoming closer to 74A with development.
    • Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About one or two. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 5.7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 74A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 74B.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.
    • Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 11.7 cm. Diameter: About 3.7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 183A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About eight. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther length: About 2.3 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 58A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma color: Close to 61A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 61A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.
    • Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been observed.
• Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal Geraniums.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevilicha’ as illustrated and described.