HS Kiss

Dahlia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bishop of Llandaff' and 'Volkskanzler'

Summary: 'HS Kiss' has shorter plants than either reference variety. The flowers of 'HS Kiss' are single, whereas 'Bishop Llandaff' has semi-double flowers. 'HS Kiss' has two colours on the ray florets, while 'Bishop of Llandaff' has only one colour. The main colour of 'HS Kiss' is orange compared with 'Volkskanzler' which has a red main colour. Before anther dehiscence, the disc of 'HS Kiss' is brown and red, whereas the disc of 'Bishop of Llandaff' is very dark red and the disc of 'Volkskanzler' is yellow green.

Description:

PLANT: short, upright growth habit
STEM: medium green, strong anthocyanin, even distribution of anthocyanin on upper ¾ of stem

LEAF: compound, few to medium number of leaflets, dark green, wings present, shallow to moderately deep incisions on margin, smooth or very weakly rugose texture, raised veins

PEDUNCLE: long, strong anthocyanin
FLOWER HEAD: high above foliage, at right-angle to moderately acute relative to peduncle, single, regular bicolour, orange red
RAY FLORET: straight to slightly reflexing along longitudinal axis, distal quarter weakly reflexed, weakly convex in cross section, flat lateral margin, retuse tip, uneven colour distribution, regular bicolour, zoned colour pattern, orange main colour, red secondary colour in basal zone, greyed yellow on lower side
DISC: medium size relative to flower head diameter, brown and red before dehiscence, yellow and orange at dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'HS Kiss' was developed by the breeder at the nursery of Fa. Gebr. Verwer in Lisse, The Netherlands. The variety originated from an open pollinated cross between two unidentified Dahlia plants. The cross was conducted in 1999. A single seedling was selected in 2000, based on criteria for flower colour, plant habit, dark foliage and self-cleaning flowers.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'HS Kiss' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety and 10 plants of the reference variety. Plants of the candidate were grown from rooted cuttings, planted in 15 cm pots on May 24, 2006. Plants of the reference variety were grown from tubers, planted in 15 cm pots on April 25, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of the candidate variety on July 6, 2006 and the reference variety on June 26, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.

Comparison tables for 'HS Kiss' with reference varieties 'Bishop of Llandaff' and 'Volkskanzler'

Plant height (cm)

Diameter of flower head (cm)

Main colour of ray floret (RHS)

Secondary colour of ray floret (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Dahlia: 'HS Kiss' (left) with reference varieties 'Bishop of Llandaff' (centre) and 'Volkskanzler' (right)