Cope Rossa

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Amri Derose Two' (Americana Deep Rose II)

Summary: 'Cope Rossa' has an open leaf base while 'Amri Derose Two' has a closed leaf base. 'Cope Rossa' has stronger waviness of the leaf margin than 'Amri Derose Two'. 'Cope Rossa' has long dense hairs on the peduncle while 'Amri Derose Two' has shorter hairs. 'Cope Rossa' has medium red colour on the middle third of the pedicel while 'Amri Derose Two' has dark red colour.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium to tall height, narrow to medium width, 3-4 branches
STEM: green, medium thickness, dense pubescence

LEAF BLADE: very short to short, very narrow to narrow, open base
LEAF MARGIN: bicrenate, weak lobing, very shallow to shallow incisions, strong waviness
UPPER SIDE OF BLADE: medium green, sparse to medium pubescence, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: absent to weak, normal position, green
PETIOLE: short to medium length, dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: pink colour group, very small to small diameter
PEDUNCLE: short to medium length, dense pubescence with long hairs, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: elliptic bud, small to medium diameter, semi-double, average of 10 petals, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: medium width, upper side purple with white and light blue violet at base, very weak purple striped markings on upper side, medium to large white basal zone, lower side blue pink and purple
LOWER PETAL: narrow, purple on upper and lower side, no markings, small white basal zone
INNER PETAL: upper side purple with no markings
PEDICEL: short, medium to dense pubescence, medium red in middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: medium pubescence, green with red at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cope Rossa' originated from a hybrid cross made in March 2006, in Gilroy, California, USA. The female parent was a proprietary seedling designated 9843-2 and the male parent was a proprietary seedling designated 10241-1. The resultant seed from the cross was sown in a greenhouse in October 2006. In December 2006, a single plant from the progeny was selected by the breeder based on flower colour, flower quality and plant habit.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Cope Rossa' were conducted in a polyhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario, during the summer of 2008. The trials consisted of 20 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 15 cm pots on June 24, 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 28, 2008. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cope Rossa' with reference variety 'Amri Derose Two'

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

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Pelargonium: 'Cope Rossa' (left) with reference variety 'Amri Derose Two' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Cope Rossa' (left) with reference variety 'Amri Derose Two' (right)