Geranium Plant Named ‘Oglger11081’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger11081’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely and early flowering habit; bright pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Oglger11081’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oglger11081’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium cultivars with dark green-colored foliage and attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2000 in Lompoc, Calif. of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 7438, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 6723-69, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Oglger11081 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Lompoc, Calif. in November, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Connellsville, Pa. since September, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Oglger11081 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength 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 ‘Oglger11081’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Oglger11081’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

• • 1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.
  • 2. Freely branching habit.
  • 3. Freely and early flowering habit.
  • 4. Bright pink-colored flowers.
  • 5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have rose-colored flowers.

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

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Fisbravo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,765. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Connellsville, Pa. plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Fisbravo in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Fisbravo.
  • 2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium flowered earlier than plants of the cultivar Fisbravo.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, 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. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oglger11081’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Connellsville, Pa. in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate Zonal Geranium commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 32° C., night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 lux to 3,000 footcandles. Plants were about nine weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Oglger11081.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 7438, not patented.
    • Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 6723-69, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at temperatures of 16° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures of 16° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • General appearance.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; uniformly mounded; densely foliated.
    • Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit.
    • Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 12.5 cm to 13.4 cm.
    • Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 22 cm to 24 cm.
    • Plant width.—About 21 cm to 22.5 cm.
    • Main stems.—Length: About 8.2 cm to 9.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm to 9 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm to 14 mm. Texture: Slightly to moderately pubescent. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A.
    • Primary lateral branches.—Length: About 1.9 cm to 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 9 mm to 12 mm. Texture: Slightly to moderately pubescent. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.
    • Length.—About 6.1 cm to 6.7 cm.
    • Width.—About 7.2 cm to 7.9 cm.
    • Shape.—Reniform.
    • Apex.—Rounded.
    • Base.—Cordate.
    • Margin.—Crenate.
    • Venation pattern.—Palmate.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; velvety.
    • Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 143A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 143C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Slightly darker than 143A; venation, 143A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 143C; venation, 143C. Zonation pattern: Not observed.
    • Petiole.—Length: About 3.3 cm to 7.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 143A.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement.—Rotate flowers arranged in rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward; flowers slightly cupped becoming flatter with development. Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.
    • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 11 to 23 flowers per umbel and about two to three umbels per lateral branch.
    • Flowering season.—In Connellsville, Pa. flowering is continuous during the spring and summer.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about 10 to 14 days on the plant.
    • Umbel height.—About 4.5 cm to 6.7 cm.
    • Umbel diameter.—About 9.5 cm to 11.7 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 4 cm to 5.2 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Elliptical.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.3 cm to 2.7 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm to 2.3 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the margins, N66B; center, 53C; towards the base, close to 155D with venation, 61C or 53C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Towards the margins, 61C; center and towards the base, 64D; color fading towards 65C at the margins.
    • Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about three. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.1 cm. Width: About 4 mm to 14 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: N66C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: 64D.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.
    • Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12.3 cm to 16.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 143A.
    • Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.3 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B; towards the sepals, overlain with 144A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About seven to nine. Filament length: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: N66A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: N163A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Split into five parts. Stigma size: About 2 mm. Stigma color: N57A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: N57A. Ovary color: 144B.
    • Seed.—Seed development has 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 Geranium.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 35° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger11081’ as illustrated and described.