Balscoberr

Coneflower

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Hot Papaya'

Summary: The leaves of 'Balscoberr' are shorter than those of 'Hot Papaya'. The inner side of the ray florets of 'Balscoberr' are orange with orange red overlay when aged while those of 'Hot Papaya' are dark pink red with orange red to orange brown undertones. The discs of 'Balscoberr' are large in relation to the flower head while those of 'Hot Papaya' are very large in relation to the flower head. The discs of 'Balscoberr' differ in colour from those of 'Hot Papaya' after the disc florets have opened. The disc florets and tubes of 'Balscoberr' are longer than those of 'Hot Papaya'.

Description:

PLANT: semi upright growth habit, short to medium height, medium floriferousness, density ranging from sparse to medium
STEM: green, medium number of leaves

LEAF: moderately elongated, broadest part strongly towards base, medium green, no variegation, medium rugosity, glossiness ranging from absent or very weak to weak, few margin indentations

PEDUNCLE: green, sparse pubescence
FLOWER HEAD: few ray florets, semi-drooping attitude of ray florets at origin, relatively all or almost all ligulate ray florets, no spatulate or quilled ray florets
RAY FLORET: medium length/width ratio, inner side when newly opened red (RHS 44A), inner side when fully opened red (RHS 42A) with orange red to orange (RHS 28A-B) on upper half, inner side when aged orange (RHS 25B) with orange red (RHS 35B) overlay, straight and weakly reflexing, absent or very weak twisting, weakly concave in cross section, truncate apex, medium tip indentations
DISC: anemone, medium height/diameter ratio, large diameter relative to flower head, before disc florets open brown purple (RHS 184D), after disc florets open orange red to orange (RHS N25A-B) with red (RHS 33A) overlay aging to orange (RHS N25B-C) and yellow orange (RHS N25D) at base, straight floret, medium length of floret tube

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balscoberr' originated from a cross pollination between the female parent, a proprietary seedling designated E41-1 and the male parent is from a bulk pollen mix of four proprietary breeding selections designated E30-3, E33-4, E39-2 and E05. The cross was conducted in October 2007 at Elburn, Illinois, USA as part of a controlled breeding program. The initial selection of 'Balscoberr' was made in June 2008 based on double flower type, flower colour, branching and floriferousness. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Balscoberr' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2012, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 plants of the candidate variety and 12 plants of the reference variety. All plants were grown from bare-rooted plants transplanted into 3.8 liter containers on April 17, 2012. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 26, 2012. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balscoberr' with reference variety 'Hot Papaya'

Leaf length (cm)

Colour of inner side of ray floret (RHS)

Colour of disc after disc florets open (RHS)

Disc floret length (cm)

Disc floret tube length (cm)

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Coneflower: 'Balscoberr' (left) with reference variety 'Hot Papaya' (right)

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Coneflower: 'Balscoberr' (left) with reference variety 'Hot Papaya' (right)

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Coneflower: 'Balscoberr' (left) with reference variety 'Hot Papaya' (right)