Balfanero

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balfanshop' (Fantasia Shocking Pink)

Summary: 'Balfanero' has a narrower leaf blade and a smaller inflorescence diameter than 'Balfanshop'. 'Balfanero' has a longer peduncle than 'Balfanshop'. 'Balfanero' has darker blue-pink petals than 'Balfanshop'. 'Balfanero' has a smaller white zone on the base of the lower petal than 'Balfanshop'. 'Balfanero' has darker red pedicels than 'Balfanshop'. The sepals of 'Balfanero' are dark red while the sepals of 'Balfanshop' are green with red streaks at the base.

Description:

'Balfanero' has a semi-upright growth habit with medium plant height and width. The stems are green in colour, medium in thickness and have dense pubescence. The leaf blade is short in length and narrow in width. The leaf base is open and the margin is bicrenate. The margin incisions are shallow in depth. There are a few to medium number of leaf lobes which are shallow in depth. The leaf blade margin has medium waviness. The upper side of the leaf blade has dense pubescence and is medium green in colour with no variegation. The zone on the upper side is weak in conspicuousness, green in colour and in the normal position. The petiole is short to medium in length and has dense pubescence.

The inflorescence of 'Balfanero' is in the pink colour group. The inflorescence is medium in diameter. The peduncle is short to medium in length, has dense pubescence and has strong anthocyanin colouration. The buds are elliptic in shape. The florets are semi-double and medium in diameter. The petal margins are entire and the lower petal width is medium. The lower petals have very weak striped markings present and have a very small white zone at the base. The upper petals have medium striped markings present and a large white spot at the base. The pedicel is short in length, has dense pubescence, is dark red in the middle third and has no swelling present. The sepal has dense pubescence and is dark red in colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balfanero' originated in a controlled breeding program during February 2000 at Arroyo Grande, California, USA. The female parent was the proprietary breeding selection designated 855-10, characterized by its semi-double, hot pink coloured flowers and dark green coloured foliage. The male parent was the proprietary breeding selection designated 1090-1, characterized by its semi-double, hot pink coloured flowers and dark green coloured foliage. The initial selection was made in March 2001 and asexual propagation has been conducted through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: 'Balfanero' 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. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings planted into 15 cm pots on April 21, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001. Measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Balfanero' with reference variety 'Balfanshop'

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Length of peduncle (cm)

Colour of upper side of lower petal (RHS)

Colour of lower side (RHS)

Colour of upper side of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of upper side of inner petal (RHS)

Pedicel length (cm)