Cherry Brandy

Hibiscus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Fireball'

Summary: The leaf blades of 'Cherry Brandy' are cordate with absent to very weak degree of lobing while those of 'Fireball' are deltoid with strong lobing. 'Cherry Brandy' has medium to deep dentate margin incisions on the leaves while 'Fireball' has shallow to medium deep serrate incisions. The upper side of the petals of 'Cherry Brandy' have more pink tones than those of 'Fireball' which are more red. 'Cherry Brandy' has no band of colour on the outer edge of its basal spot while 'Fireball' has a band of dark purple red on the outer edge of its basal spot.

Description:

PLANT: medium branching density, upright to semi-upright attitude of branches
STEM: red with light green at base, strong anthocyanin colouration, thick primary branch, thin to medium thickness of secondary branches, absent to very weak pubescence

LEAF: alternate arrangement along stem, weak degree of lobing of young leaves, absent to weak degree of lobing of mature leaves
LEAF BLADE: reddish upper side, medium green lower side, no variegation, absent to very sparse pubescence, cordate, cordate base, acuminate apex
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: absent to very weak undulation of margin, dentate, medium to deep incisions

FIRST FLOWERING DATE: September 6
FLOWER: single type, one coloured, red colour group, medium to strong overlapping of petals, not persistent
PETAL: fan shape, upper side dark purple red with pink tones, dark purple red lower side, weak undulation of margin
PETAL BASAL SPOT: red, small to medium size
STIGMA: darker than 187B (RHS)
STYLE: dark purple red
FILAMENT: dark pink red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cherry Brandy' 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 spring of 2002, in Alva, Florida, United States, between the female parent, Hibiscus variety 'Peppermint Schnapps' and the male parent, Hibiscus variety 'Kopper King'. The new variety was selected by the breeder on May 20, 2003 in Alva, Florida. Selection of 'Cherry Brandy' was based on its good branching characteristics, 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 June 2003.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Cherry Brandy' 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, 2007and colour observations on September 19, 2007. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cherry Brandy' with reference variety 'Fireball'

Main petal colour (RHS)

Colour of petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Hibiscus: 'Cherry Brandy' (left) with reference variety 'Fireball' (right)