Balsomador

Coneflower

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balsomenco' (Sombrero Flamenco Orange)

Summary: The ray floret of 'Balsomador' is smaller than that of 'Balsomenco'. When fully open, the inner side of the ray floret of 'Balsomador' is orange with red to dark pink red tones while the ray floret of 'Balsomenco' is dark pink red with yellow orange to light yellow orange tones at the apex. When aged, the inner side of the ray floret of 'Balsomador' is yellow orange with red pink tones while the ray floret of 'Balsomenco' is dark pink red with light yellow orange tones at the apex.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium floriferousness, medium density
STEM: green, medium number of leaves

LEAF: moderately elongated length/width ratio, broadest part positioned moderately towards base, medium green on upper side, no variegation, weak to medium rugosity, weak glossiness, very few indentations along margin

PEDUNCLE: green, medium density of pubescence
FLOWER HEAD: medium number of ray florets, all or almost all ligulate type ray florets, no spatulate or quilled ray florets
RAY FLORET: when newly open inner side is orange red (RHS N30B-C) with red (RHS N30A) overcolour covering large area, when fully open inner side is orange (RHS 26A-B) with red to dark pink red (RHS 50A-B) tones, when aged inner side is yellow orange (RHS 23A-B) with red pink (RHS 51C) tones, attitude is semi-drooping from basal end, moderately reflexing, absent or very weak twisting, profile is flat in cross-section, pointed apex, shallow and medium depth of indentations at tip
DISC: daisy type, medium height/diameter ratio, medium diameter in relation to flower head, paleae is orange at base and red-purple at tip, no ray florets within disc

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balsomador' originated from a cross pollination between the proprietary seedling designated 'E30-2-2', as the female parent, and a bulk pollen mixture from seven proprietary breeding selections designated 'E30-2-8', 'E30-2-10', 'E30-2-12', 'E30-2-13', 'E30-2-14', 'E30-2-15' and E30-2-17, as the male parent. The cross was conducted in October 2008 as part of a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Illinois, USA. The initial selection of 'Balsomador' in June 2010 was based on its single inflorescence form, imbricate ray florets and well-branched, compact growth habit. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Balsomador' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2016 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 8 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 3.8 liter containers on May 31, 2016. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on August 15, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balsomador' with reference variety 'Balsomenco'

Ray floret length (cm)

Ray floret width (cm)

Colour of inner side of ray floret (RHS)

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Coneflower: 'Balsomador' (left) with reference variety 'Balsomenco' (right)

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Coneflower: 'Balsomador' (left) with reference variety 'Balsomenco' (right)

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Coneflower: 'Balsomador' (left) with reference variety 'Balsomenco' (right)