Balfierose

Impatiens

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balolerose' (Fiesta Ole Rose)

Summary: 'Balfierose' has a longer leaf length than 'Balolerose'. 'Balfierose' differs slightly in flower colour and has no secondary colour while 'Balolerose' has white secondary colour on the edge of some of the petals.

Description:

'Balfierose' is a double impatiens variety. The leaf blade has no variegation and is dark green in colour on the upper side. The midrib on the upper side has weak anthocyanin colouration. The lower side of the leaf blade is green and weak to medium red in colour. The midrib on the lower side has very weak anthocyanin colouration and the veins have weak anthocyanin. The petiole has weak anthocyanin.

The double flowers are purple red in colour with no secondary colour. The lower side of the petal is red pink (RHS 52B-C) in colour. The pedicel has very weak anthocyanin colouration and the spur has weak to medium anthocyanin. The flower spur has very weak curvature.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balfierose' originated from a hybridization made in a controlled breeding program during May 2001, at Elburn, Illinois, USA. The female parent was a proprietary breeding selection designated 3389-1-1, characterized by its semi-double purple coloured flowers. The male parent was a proprietary selection designated 3457-1, characterized by its red coloured flowers. The initial selection was made in February 2002 and asexual propagation has been conducted through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: 'Balfierose' was tested in a polyhouse during the spring of 2005, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 29, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001. Measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Balfierose' with reference variety 'Balolerose'

Leaf length (cm)

Colour of upper side of petal (RHS)