Zonalisalo

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fishelus' (Schoene Helena '06) and 'Zosa' (Fidelity XL Salmon)

Summary: 'Zonalisalo' produces more branches than 'Zosa'. 'Zonalisalo' differs in the colour of the upper and lower side of the upper petal from the reference varieties. 'Zonalisalo' has less conspicuous petal markings on the upper petal than 'Zosa'. 'Zonalisalo' has a smaller white zone at the base of the upper petal than the reference varieties. 'Zonalisalo' has a green pedicel while 'Fisheles' has a medium red pedicel and 'Zosa' has a green to light red pedicel.

Description:

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

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

INFLORESCENCE: salmon colour group, medium number per plant, medium diameter
PEDUNCLE: medium to long, dense pubescence, absent or weak anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: bud elliptic, single to semi-double, medium diameter, low to medium number of petals, margin entire
UPPER PETAL: medium width, upper side red pink with very weak striped markings and very small white zone at base, lower side white to red pink
LOWER PETAL: medium to broad, upper side white to red pink with no markings and small to medium white zone at base, lower side white to red pink
PEDICEL: medium to long, dense pubescence, green on middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: dense pubescence, green

Origin & Breeding History: 'Zonalisalo' originated from a controlled pollination made in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 2000. The female parent, identified as H2163-2 was crossed by the male parent, identified as J2213-1. 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 'Zonalisalo' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 at St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were planted into 10 cm pots on May 1, 2006 and then 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 'Zonalisalo' with reference varieties 'Fishelus' and 'Zosa'

Colour upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Zonalisalo' (left) with reference varieties 'Fishelus' (centre) and 'Zosa' (right)