plant named ‘Dueviimplum’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueviimplum’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored semi-double flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEVIIMPLUM’.

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 ‘Dueviimplum’.

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 freely-branching Zonal Geranium plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2009 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-15-13, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-08-05, 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, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2011 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 and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions 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 ‘Dueviimplum’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dueviimplum’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

• • 1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.
  • 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely basal branching habit.
  • 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Large red purple-colored semi-double flowers.
  • 6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more vigorous than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have lighter green-colored leaves than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely flowering than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Zonal Geranium ‘Bajazzo’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Bajazzo’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves than plants of ‘Bajazzo’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had lighter green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Bajazzo’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Bajazzo’ differed slightly in flower 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 plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueviimplum’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Pelargonium 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 and were 13 weeks old 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 ‘Dueviimplum’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-15-13, not patented.
    • Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale×Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number F-08-05, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures of about 20° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures of about 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
• Plant description:
  • • General appearance.—Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.
    • Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit with about four basal branches developing per plant.
    • Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 29 cm.
    • Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 12.1 cm.
    • Plant width.—About 23 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.
    • Length.—About 7.9 cm.
    • Width.—About 9.7 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 146B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145A. Zonation pattern: Not discernible.
    • Petiole.—Length: About 7.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: 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 moderately strong peduncles; flowers face mostly upright.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit, about 16 flowers 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 to flower about eight weeks after planting.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.
    • Umbel height.—About 5.4 cm.
    • Umbel diameter.—About 8.3 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 5 cm by 4.8 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 2.4 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 62A.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 57A and 45A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 58D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 57A and 45A; towards the base, close to 155D; color becoming closer to 61A with development. When opening, lower surface: Close to 57C; color becoming closer to 61A with development.
    • Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 5 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 66A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 66C.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A tinted with close to 39A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A tinted with close to 41A.
    • Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 53A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About five. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to 62A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 83A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.
    • Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium.
• 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 have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

Claims

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