Fip 553

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Fisrored'

Summary: 'Fip 553' produces a shorter and less upright plant than 'Fisrored'. The conspicuousness of the zone on the leaf blade is weaker in 'Fip 553' than 'Fisrored' and thus gives the leaf a lighter green colour. The inflorescence of 'Fip 553' has a bigger diameter than 'Fisrored'. The length of the peduncle in 'Fip 553' is longer than in 'Fisrored'.

Description:

'Fip 553' is a zonal pelargonium variety with an intermediate to spreading growth habit. The stems are green, and medium to thick in thickness with dense pubescence. The leaf is a type 1 shape, has a open to closed base and crenate margins. The margin has weak to medium waviness, and very weak to weak lobing, which is shallow in depth. The leaves are medium green in colour with no variegation and dense pubescence on the upper side. The zone on the upper side of the leaf is medium in conspicuousness, normal in position, and green to reddish brown in colour.

'Fip 553' produces a medium number of red coloured inflorescences. The peduncle has dense to very dense pubescence and no anthocyanin colouration. The flower bud is elliptic in shape and the florets are semi-double. There is a medium number of flower petals. The petal margin is entire. The width of the upper petal is broad in size. There is a small white zone at the base of the upper petals. There are no markings on the upper and lower petals. The middle third of the pedicel is dark red in colour and has dense pubescence. The sepals have medium to dense pubescence and are green in colour with strong red colouring at the base and red streaking throughout.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Fip 553' originated from a hybridization made in 1995 of a female parent 'K91-1477-2' with a male parent 'Fissamba' at Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain. One seedling was selected from the offspring in 1996. Selection criteria were growth habit and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Fip 553' were conducted in a greenhouse during the spring/summer of 2002 in Langley, British Columbia. The trials included fifteen plants per variety. All plants were grown from 6 week old rooted cuttings transplanted into 9 cm pots at 12 weeks using a 60:40 (peat : perlite) media mixture. At 23 weeks, the seedlings were repotted to 18 cm pots. Plants were spaced as needed to ensure uniform growth. Unless indicated otherwise, measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Fip 553' with reference variety 'Fisrored'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Peduncle length (cm)

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)