Zofiscale

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Amri Dered' (Americana Deep Red) and 'Fip 553' (Rocky Mountain Red)

Summary: 'Zofiscale' has crenate leaf blade margins with strong waviness while 'Fip 553' has bicrenate margins with weak to medium waviness. 'Zofiscale' has a more conspicuous leaf zone than the reference varieties. 'Zofiscale' has very weak anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle while it is medium for 'Amri Dered' and weak for 'Fip 553'. 'Zofiscale' has broader upper and lower petals than 'Amri Dered'. The colour of the middle third of the pedicel is medium red for 'Zofiscale' while it is green for 'Amri Dered' and medium to dark red for 'Fip 553'. The colour of the sepal is green with red streaks from the base for 'Zofiscale' while it is green in 'Amri Dered'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium to tall, medium to broad, medium number of branches
STEM: green, medium thickness, dense pubescence

LEAF BLADE: medium to long, medium to broad, wide open to open base, lobing present
MARGIN: crenate, shallow incisions, strong waviness
UPPER SIDE: dense to very dense pubescence, light to medium green, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: very strong conspicuousness, normal position, reddish brown
PETIOLE: short to medium in length, dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: red colour group, medium to high number per plant, medium to large diameter
PEDUNCLE: medium to long, dense pubescence, very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: elliptic bud, semi-double, small to medium diameter, medium number of petals, margin entire
UPPER PETAL: medium to broad, upper side bright red (RHS 44B) with weak striped markings and very small white zone at base, lower side red (RHS 40A)
LOWER PETAL: broad, upper side bright red (RHS 44B) with no markings and very small white zone at base, lower side red (RHS 40A)
PEDICEL: medium to long, dense pubescence, medium red on middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: dense pubescence, green with red streaks from base

Origin & Breeding History: 'Zofiscale' originated from a controlled pollination conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 2000. The female parent, identified as J2296-4 was crossed by the male parent, identified as J2278-5. A single seedling was selected in April 2001 and propagated by cuttings. The new pelargonium was tested one year later at greenhouse and field performance trials in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and evaluated for criteria including earliness, good branching, good and stable flower colour, flower size, rich and continuous flowering and resistance against Botrytis. In the same year it was tested in Sarrians, Southern France for heat resistance and resistance to drought stress.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Zofiscale' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants per variety Rooted cuttings were planted into 10 cm pots on May 1, 2006 and were transplanted into 20 cm pots on June 26, 2006. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Zofiscale' with reference varieties 'Amri Dered' and 'Fip 553'

Upper petal width (cm)

Lower petal width (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Zofiscale' (left) with reference varieties 'Amri Dered' (centre) and 'Fip 553' (right)