Balshopink

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'BFP-790 Pink Parfait' (Showcase Pink Parfait)

Summary: 'Balshopink' is a zonal pelargonium variety which produces plants with more branches than'BFP-790 Pink Parfait'. The peduncle of 'Balshopink' is longer than the peduncle of the reference variety. The petals of 'Balshopink' have no petal markings, whereas both upper and lower petals of 'BFP-790 Pink Parfait' have a conspicuous, red-purple spot.

Description:

'Balshopink' is a zonal pelargonium variety which produces plants that are medium in height with an upright growth habit and many branches. The stems are red with dense pubescence. The leaves are type 3 in shape and are medium in length and width. The leaf base is open and the margins are crenate. 'Balshopink' has medium to strongly lobed leaves with medium depth sinuses and medium waviness of the margins. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green, densely pubescent, with no zone. The petiole is short to medium in length and is densely pubescent.

'Balshopink' produces pink inflorescences that are medium in size. The peduncle is medium in length with dense pubescence and very strong anthocyanin colouration. The buds are elliptic in shape. The florets of 'Balshopink' are semi-double and have entire petal margins. The upper petal is medium in width with no markings. There is a large white zone at the base of the upper petal. The lower petal of 'Balshopink' has no markings. The pedicel has dense pubescence and is medium red in the middle third of its length. The sepals of 'Balshopink' are red.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balshopink' originated from a hybridization made in the summer of 1997, as part of a controlled breeding program in Weener, Germany. The female parent was the Pelargonium variety 'Sel Lady', characterized by its very compact habit, semi-double pink flowers with small red spots and dark green foliage. The male parent was the Pelargonium variety 'Sel Kitty', characterized by its very compact habit, semi-double, light lavender flowers with small light purple spots and dark green foliage. The initial selection was made in the summer of 1998.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Balshopink' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring/summer of 2004 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials consisted of 15 plants of each of the candidate and reference variety. Rooted cuttings were planted into 11cm pots on May 14, 2004 (Week 20). Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 6, 2004. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.

Comparison tables for 'Balshopink' with reference variety 'BFP-790 Pink Parfait'

Plant height (cm)

Number of branches per plant

Length of peduncle (cm)

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Colour of upper side of inner petal (RHS)