Cinnamon Grappa

Hibiscus

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fireball' and 'Lord Baltimore'

Summary: The density of branching on 'Cinnamon Grappa' is sparse while that on 'Fireball' is moderate. 'Cinnamon Grappa' has shorter young leaf blades than 'Fireball'. The mature leaf blades of 'Cinnamon Grappa' are light green on the upper side while those of 'Fireball' are reddish. 'Cinnamon Grappa' has leaf blades with dense pubescence and weak to moderate lobing while both reference varieties have leaves with absent to very sparse pubescence and strong lobing. The petals of 'Cinnamon Grappa' are wider than those of 'Lord Baltimore'. 'Cinnamon Grappa' has a lighter red band of colour on the outer edge of the petal basal spot than the reference varieties. 'Cinnamon Grappa' has a lighter red stigma than both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: sparse branching, upright to semi-upright attitude of branches
STEM: red with light green at base, strong anthocyanin colouration, thick primary branch, thin to medium thick secondary branches, no pubescence

LEAF: alternate arrangement along stem
LEAF BLADE: strong degree of lobing of young leaves, weak to medium degree of lobing of mature leaves, light green on upper side, no variegation, dense and very short pubescence, cordate, cordate base, acuminate apex
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: very weak undulation, dentate and crenate, shallow incisions

FIRST FLOWERING DATE: August 25
FLOWER: single type, one coloured, weak to moderate overlapping of petals, red colour group, not persistent
PETAL: fan shape, upper side more red-purple than 53B (RHS), lower side more red-purple than 53B (RHS) with dark pink red veins, weak undulation of margin, close to horizontal attitude
PETAL BASAL SPOT: red with darkening at outer margin of spot, small
STIGMA: dark pink red
STYLE: dark pink red
FILAMENT: purple red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cinnamon Grappa' originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the breeder, Mr. Mark A. Smith, an employee of Yoder Brothers Inc., Barberton, Ohio, United States. The cross occurred in the summer of 2001, in Alva, Florida, United States between the female parent, an unnamed Hibiscus seedling with red flowers and the male parent, Hibiscus variety 'Fantasia'. 'Cinnamon Grappa' was selected by the breeder on April 1, 2002 in Alva, Florida, United States. Selection of 'Cinnamon Grappa' was based on its good branching habit, uniform plant growth habit, desirable flower size, flower colour, foliage colour and foliage shape. The variety has been maintained by vegetative tip cuttings in Alva, Florida since May, 2002.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Cinnamon Grappa' were conducted as a container trial during the summer of 2007 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were planted in 20 centimetre pots on June 8, 2007 and transplanted into 7.5 litre containers on August 1, 2007. Measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 24, 2007 and colour observations on September 19, 2007. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cinnamon Grappa' with reference varieties 'Fireball' and 'Lord Baltimore'

Young leaf blade length (cm)

Petal width (cm)

Colour of petal (RHS)

Stigma colour (RHS)

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Hibiscus: 'Cinnamon Grappa' (left) with reference varieties 'Fireball' (center) and 'Lord Baltimore' (right)

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Hibiscus: 'Cinnamon Grappa' (left) with reference varieties 'Fireball' (center) and 'Lord Baltimore' (right)