Balfiespor

Impatiens

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balfiespray' (Fiesta Sparkler Cherry)

Summary: The plants of 'Balfiespor' are shorter than the plants of 'Balfiespray'. The upper side of the leaf is medium green for 'Balfiespor' while it is dark green for 'Balfiespray'. The secondary colour on the upper side of the petal of 'Balfiespor' is red with purple red to light blue pink at the transition to the main colour while the secondary colour of 'Balfiespray' is red.

Description:

SHOOT: medium anthocyanin colouration on upper third with stronger flecks of anthocyanin at nodes

LEAF: no variegation, upper side medium green, lower side green and red between veins with green veins
PETIOLE: upper side with weak anthocyanin colouration

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: double, main colour on upper side white (RHS NN155C) with red (RHS 43B) secondary colour, purple red to light blue pink (RHS 55B-C) at transition to main colour, secondary colour located along edge of all petals but absent at base and apex of petal.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Balfiespor' originated from a cross pollination conducted in April 2005 at Arroyo Grande, California, USA. The female parent was the variety 'Accent Violet Star', characterized by its violet and white bicoloured flowers, dark green foliage and vigourous prostrate growth habit. The male parent was a proprietary breeding selection, designated 3286-2-2-2, characterized by its orange and white bicoloured flowers, dark green foliage and vigourous compact growth habit. The variety was selected in May 2006 for its unique bicoloured flowers, very full flower form and compact growth habit. Asexual propagation since the time of selection has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Balfiespor' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2011 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 9, 2011. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 29, 2011. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balfiespor' with reference variety 'Balfiespray'

Plant height (cm)

Colour of upper side of petal (RHS)

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Impatiens: 'Balfiespor' (left) with reference variety 'Balfiespray' (right)

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Impatiens: 'Balfiespor' (left) with reference variety 'Balfiespray' (right)