Imtrarose

Impatiens

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fify Rossa' (Firefly Rose) and 'Imtrarepu' (Spellbound Pink)

Summary: 'Imtrarose' has broader plants with longer leaves and larger flower diameter than 'Fify Rossa'. The lower side of the leaf blades between the veins is red and green for 'Imtrarose' while it is only green for 'Imtrarepu'. The flowers of 'Imtrarose' are bright purple red with a darker purple red upper petal and very small eye zone while those of 'Fify Rossa' are lighter purple red with no eye zone and those of 'Imtrarepu' are lighter purple red with a medium sized eye zone.

Description:

'Imtrarose' is an Impatiens variety which has very short to short plants that are broad in width. The upper third of the stem has strong anthocyanin colouration. The leaf blade is medium in length and width with a length:width ratio of 1.5:1. The leaf blade has no variegation. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green with streaks of moderate anthocyanin colouration at the base of the midrib. The lower side of the leaf blade between the veins is green and red with absent to very weak anthocyanin on the midrib and veins. The red colouration on the lower side of the leaf blade is very weak to strong in intensity. The petioles are medium in length and have streaks of moderate anthocyanin on the upper side.

'Imtrarose' has single type flowers which are large in diameter. The colour of the flowers is bright purple red with a darker purple red upper petal on the upper side and blue pink with darker blue pink petal margins on the lower side. There is a very small, red eye zone. The incisions on the lower petals are very shallow. The upper and lateral petals are broad and the lower petals are long. The pedicel is short with absent to very weak anthocyanin. The flower spur is moderately to strongly curved and has weak to strong anthocyanin.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Imtrarose' originated from a controlled cross conducted in January of 1999 by the breeder Monica Sanders at Syngenta Seeds B.V. in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an Impatiens selection designated 'P2076-2' and the male parent was another Impatiens selection designated 'P1291-4'. 'Imtrarose' was selected in August of 1999 based on its plant growth habit, flower size and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Imtrarose' was conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora Inc., St. Thomas, Ontario during the spring of 2005. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11 cm pots on April 27, 2005. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Imtrarose' with reference varieties 'Fify Rossa' and 'Imtrarepu'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Colour of petals (RHS)