Penny Lane

Geranium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Carol'

Summary: The plants of 'Penny Lane' are larger than those of 'Carol'. 'Penny Lane' has flowers with a smaller diameter than 'Carol'. The petals of 'Penny Lane' are violet with a white base on the upper side while those of 'Carol' are violet with a dark purple base.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial, mounded growth habit
STEM: dark green, medium pubescence

LEAF: rosette arrangement, simple, orbicular, acute apex, cordate and sagittate base, lobed margin, sparse pubescence on upper and lower sides, dark green on upper side, no variegation, petiole present

PEDUNCLE: present, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: one flowering period, early flowering, long flowering period, simple, erect attitude
PETALS: touching, few, rounded, retuse apex, very sparse to sparse pubescence on upper side, violet (RHS N78B) with white base on upper side, violet (RHS N78C) on lower side

Origin & Breeding History: 'Penny Lane' originated from the open pollination of un-named selections of Geranium cinereum, in 1999. The new variety was discovered and selected from the resultant seedling population in the nursery of Mr. C. Lowe in New Port, United Kingdom, in 2000. 'Penny Lane' was selected based on flower colour.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Penny Lane' were conducted during the summer of 2009, in Oxford Station, Ontario. Ten plants each of the candidate and reference varieties were grown in 15 cm pots spaced 60 cm apart in a polyhouse. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Penny Lane' with reference variety 'Carol'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Colour of petals (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Geranium: 'Penny Lane' (bottom) with reference variety 'Carol' (top)