plant named ‘Pacneon’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacneon’, characterized by its compact, upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; early flowering habit; semi-double intense red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACNEON’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact semi-double flowered Zonal Geranium cultivars with uniform plant habit, dark green-colored foliage and attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2002 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. 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 Dresden, Germany in June, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2003, 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 ‘Pacneon’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacneon’ as anew and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

• • 1. Compact, upright and rounded plant habit.
  • 2. Freely branching habit.
  • 3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • 4. Dark green-colored leaves.
  • 5. Freely flowering habit.
  • 6. Semi-double bright red purple-colored flowers.
  • 7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacmar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,202. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Pacmar’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more compact than plants of ‘Pacmar’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were not as vigorous as plants of ‘Pacmar’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Pacmar’ differed slightly in flower color.
  • 4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Pacmar’ differed in peduncle color.

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. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacneon’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were six months from planting when the photograph and 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×hortorum ‘Pacneon’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.
    • Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant/growth habit.—Compact, upright to rounded plant habit; densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal branching habit with about five lateral branches developing per plant.
    • Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 30 cm.
    • Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 20 cm.
    • Plant width.—About 40 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.
    • Length.—About 4 cm.
    • Width.—About 7 cm.
    • Shape.—Reniform.
    • Apex.—Rounded.
    • Base.—Cordate.
    • Margin.—Bi-crenate.
    • Venation pattern.—Palmate.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; velvety.
    • Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146C. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Zonation pattern: Intensity: Medium. Width: About 1.5 cm. Color: Close to 139A. Petiole: Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement.—Semi-double 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 rounded. Flowers not fragrant.
    • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about seven flower umbels per plant each with about 20 flower buds and open flowers.
    • Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin to flower about 90 days after planting.
    • Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from April until frost in the autumn.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.
    • Umbel height.—About 6 cm.
    • Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower: About eight; imbricate. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: More blue than 66A; central marking on upper petals, close to 34A; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 66A. Color does not fade with development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 66B; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 66A.
    • Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: More blue than 66A; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 66A. Color does not fade with development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 66B; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 66A.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 166A; towards the base, close to 146A.
    • Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 166A.
    • Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 166A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About eight. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color: Close to 169C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 169C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 60A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 60C. Ovary color: Close to 148B.
    • Seeds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: Close to 165A.
• 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 0° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

Claims

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