KLEP03012

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Sil Claudio' (Fantasia Strawberry Sizzle) and 'BFP-790 Pink Parfait' (Showcase Pink Parfait)

Summary: 'KLEP03012' has a shorter plant height and shorter leaf blade length than 'Sil Claudio'. 'KLEP03012' has no leaf zone while 'BFP-790 Pink Parfait' has a very weak leaf zone. 'KLEP03012' has a smaller floret diameter than 'Sil Claudio'. 'KLEP03012' has a shorter pedicel length and differs in flower colour from the reference varieties.

Description:

'KLEP03012' has a semi-upright growth habit with short to medium plant height and narrow to medium plant width. The stems are green in colour, thin to medium in thickness and have dense to very dense pubescence. The leaf blade is short in length and narrow to medium in width. The leaf base is wide open to closed and the margin is crenate. The margin incisions are shallow in depth. There are a medium number of leaf lobes which are shallow to medium in depth. The leaf blade margin has weak to medium waviness. The upper side of the leaf blade has dense pubescence and is light to medium green in colour with no variegation. There is no zone on the upper side of the leaf. The petiole is medium in length and has medium to dense pubescence.

The inflorescence of 'KLEP03012' is in the pink colour group. The inflorescence is medium in diameter. The peduncle is short to medium in length, has dense pubescence and strong to very strong anthocyanin colouration. The buds are narrow elliptic in shape. The florets are single or semi-double and medium in diameter. The petal margins are entire and the lower petal width is medium. The lower petals have macule markings present that are medium in conspicuousness. There is a medium to large white zone at the base of the lower petal. The upper petals have strongly conspicuous striped and macule markings present. The pedicel is short to medium in length, has dense pubescence, is medium to dark red in the middle third and has no swelling present. The sepal has medium to dense pubescence and is green in colour with red streaks at the base.

Origin & Breeding History: 'KLEP03012' originated from the controlled pollination between Z 97501 x Z 97501, made in Stuttgart, Germany in 2000. Seedlings were selected from the F1 progeny in 2001. Selection criteria included flower colour, early flowering, plant habit and excellent pot performance. 'KLEP03012' was evaluated at greenhouse trials during 2001 and 2002 in Italy and Stuttgart, Germany. The new variety was assessed for plant growth and habit, pot performance, flower quality and early flowering. Outdoor trials were conducted in Stuttgart, Germany during 2002 to assess outdoor performance, flower number and tolerance to weather and diseases.

Tests & Trials: 'KLEP03012' was tested in a polyhouse during the spring of 2005, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings planted into 15 cm pots on April 21, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001. Measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'KLEP03012' with reference varieties 'Sil Claudio' and 'BFP-790 Pink Parfait'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Floret diameter (cm)

Colour of upper side of lower petal (RHS)

Colour of lower side (RHS)

Colour of upper side of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of upper side of inner petal (RHS)

Pedicel length (cm)