Frankly Scarlet

Coneflower

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balsomsed' (Sombrero Salsa Red)

Summary: The plant of ‘Frankly Scarlet' is taller than that of ‘Balsomsed'. The flower head of ‘Frankly Scarlet' has few ray florets while that of ‘Balsomsed' has a medium number.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium degree of branching, medium number of flowers

STEM: green, medium number of leaves

LEAF: medium green, moderately elongated length to width ratio, broadest at middle or slightly towards base, absent or very weak rugosity, absent or very weak glossiness, few margin indentations, no variegation

PEDUNCLE: green, sparse to medium pubescence
FLOWER: medium height
RAY FLORET: few, semi-erect at origin, all or almost all ligulate, narrow to medium width, medium to high length to width ratio, straight, weak twisting, flat profile in cross section, pointed to rounded apex, shallow indentations of tip, dark red (RHS N45A/45A) inner side
DISC: daisy type, small to medium diameter, short to medium height, short to medium height to diameter ratio, narrow to medium diameter in relation to flower head, yellowish green paleae, no ray florets within disc

Origin & Breeding History: 'Frankly Scarlet' originated from a cross between the proprietary hybrid ‘15-29-12' and the proprietary hybrid '15-29-13' on August 8, 2015, at a nursery in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. In the summer of 2016, a new plant of 'Frankly Scarlet' was selected based on its foliage type, flower colour, and plant habit. In the fall of 2016, the seedling was originally divided at Walters Gardens, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Frankly Scarlet' was conducted outdoors during the summer of 2025 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown in 16 cm pots spaced 45 cm apart under a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'Frankly Scarlet' with reference variety 'Balsomsed'

Plant height (cm)

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Coneflower: ‘Frankly Scarlet' (left) with reference variety ‘Balsomsed' (right)

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Coneflower: ‘Frankly Scarlet' (left) with reference variety ‘Balsomsed' (right)