HS Romeo

Dahlia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bishop of Llandaff' and 'Delta Red'

Summary: 'HS Romeo' has shorter plants than either reference variety, mainly because the variety has short peduncles and the flowers are at the same level as the foliage, whereas in the two reference varieties the peduncles are longer and the flowers are high above the foliage. The flower heads of 'HS Romeo' and 'Delta Red' are single, while 'Bishop Llandaff' has semi-double flowers. The flower heads of 'HS Romeo' are also significantly smaller in diameter than those of the references. The flower colour of 'HS Romeo' is dark purple red, compared with red for the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: short, upright to bushy growth habit
STEM: light green, very strong anthocyanin, even distribution of anthocyanin

LEAF: compound, few leaflets, green tinged with purple, wings present, deep incisions on margin, weakly rugose texture, raised veins

PEDUNCLE: very short to short, strong to very strong anthocyanin
FLOWER HEAD: at same level as foliage, at right-angle to weakly acute relative to peduncle, single, one colour, dark red to purple
RAY FLORET: reflexing along longitudinal axis, distal quarter weakly reflexed, weakly concave to flat in cross section, weakly revolute lateral margin, retuse tip, even colour distribution, dark purple red main colour, dark purple red on lower side
DISC: medium size relative to flower head diameter, very dark purple red before dehiscence, yellow at dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'HS Romeo' 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 a female parent identified as VD1-216 and pollen of an unidentified Dahlia plant. 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 Romeo' 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 20, 2006 and the reference variety on June 26, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.

Comparison tables for 'HS Romeo' with reference varieties 'Bishop of Llandaff' and 'Delta Red'

Plant height (cm)

Diameter of flower head (cm)

Main colour of ray floret (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Dahlia: 'HS Romeo' (left) with reference varieties 'Bishop of Llandaff' (centre) and 'Delta Red' (right)