Ballurscar

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balluresion' (Allure Red Passion)

Summary: 'Ballurscar' has a more conspicuous leaf zone than the reference variety 'Balluresion'. 'Ballurscar' has medium anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle, whereas the peduncle of 'Balluresion' has weak anthocyanin. The two varieties differ slightly in flower colour.

Description:

PLANT: upright to intermediate growth habit, medium to tall height, medium to broad width, very few branches
STEM: green, medium thickness, dense pubescence

LEAF BLADE: long, wide, open to closed base
LEAF MARGIN: crenate, moderate lobing, shallow to medium incisions, weak waviness
UPPER SIDE OF BLADE: light green, dense pubescence, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: weakly to moderately conspicuous, normal position, reddish brown
PETIOLE: short to medium length, dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: red colour group, small to medium diameter
PEDUNCLE: medium length, dense pubescence, medium anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: semi-double, small to medium diameter, few petals, elliptic bud, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: narrow, upper side red at margin, orange red in middle, no markings, medium sized white basal zone, lower side red
LOWER PETAL: medium width, upper side red with no markings, small white basal zone, lower side red
PEDICEL: short to medium length, dense pubescence, medium red in middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: dense to very dense pubescence, mostly green with red streaks

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ballurscar' originated from a cross pollination conducted on May 1, 2003, at Arroyo Grande, California, as part of a controlled breeding program. The female parent was 'Fisfire', characterized by its scarlet red flower colour, medium to dark green foliage and mounded growth habit. The male parent was 'Fip 553', characterized by its deep red flower colour, medium green foliage with distinct zone, and upright growth habit. The initial selection was made on May 5, 2004. The selection criteria were flower colour, vigour, upright growth habit, earliness to flower and flower form.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Ballurscar' were conducted in a polyhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario, during the summer of 2008. The trials consisted of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 20, 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 18, 2008. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Ballurscar' with reference variety 'Balluresion'

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Ballurscar' (left) with reference variety 'Balluresion' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Ballurscar' (left) with reference variety 'Balluresion' (right)