Sil Quirin

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Fiscody' (Comedy '07)

Summary: The floret diameter of 'Sil Quirin' is narrower than that of 'Fiscody'. There are approximately 18 petals per floret in 'Sil Quirin' whereas 'Fiscody' has 9. The upper and lower petals of 'Sil Quirin' are narrower than those of 'Fiscody'. The middle third of the pedicel of 'Sil Quirin' is light to medium red whereas it is green on 'Fiscody'.

Description:

PLANT: intermediate growth habit, 3-5 branches
STEM: green, medium thickness, sparse to medium density of pubescence

LEAF: partly overlapping base
LEAF MARGIN: entire, lobing present, weak waviness
UPPER SIDE OF BLADE: medium green, absent to very sparse pubescence, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: very weak, normal position, reddish brown
PETIOLE: sparse to medium pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: pink colour group
PEDUNCLE: sparse to moderate pubescence, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: elliptic bud shape, semi-double to double, average of 18 petals, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: upper side purple to purple red with purple red at base, weakly conspicuous purple spots and dark red purple striped markings on upper side, very small white basal zone, blue pink on lower side
LOWER PETAL: upper side purple to purple red with no markings present, very small white basal zone, lower side blue pink
INNER PETAL: upper side purple red with no markings
PEDICEL: sparse to medium pubescence, middle third light to medium red, swelling present
SEPAL: sparse pubescence, green

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sil Quirin' arose from a controlled cross between the variety 'Hillscheider Amethyst', characterized by its medium violet flower colour, medium green foliage with weak zonation and semi-upright growth habit, and 'Royal Blue', characterized by its medium-dark purple flower colour, medium green foliage without zonation and semi-upright growth habit. The cross was conducted in Weener, Germany in the summer of 2000. Initial selection was made in June, 2001 based on flower colour, flower shape, flowering maturity and foliage zonation. Since then, asexual propagation has been through vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial of 'Sil Quirin' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2008 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 20 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 30 cm hanging baskets on May 14, 2008. Each basket contained 4 cuttings with a total of 5 baskets per variety. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 17, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Sil Quirin' with reference variety 'Fiscody'

Diameter of largest floret (cm)

Upper petal width (cm)

Lower petal width (cm)

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

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Pelargonium: 'Sil Quirin' (left) with reference variety 'Fiscody' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Sil Quirin' (left) with reference variety 'Fiscody' (right)