Balfiesalmo

Impatiens

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Salmon Sunrise' (Fiesta Salmon Sunrise)

Summary: 'Balfiesalmo' differs mainly from the reference variety by plant size, leaf length, colour of the leaf blade on the lower side between the veins, and flower colour. 'Balfiesalmo' is shorter and wider than 'Salmon Sunrise'. The leaf length is shorter for 'Balfiesalmo' than for 'Salmon Sunrise'. The lower side of the leaf for 'Balfiesalmo' is red and green with a very weak to medium intensity of red colouration between the veins while 'Salmon Sunrise' is green only. The flower colour on the upper side of the petal is more orange than red for 'Balfiesalmo' while it is red pink for 'Salmon Sunrise'. The flower colour on the lower side of the petal is red pink and paler at the centre for 'Balfiesalmo' while it is red pink fading to white for 'Salmon Sunrise'.

Description:

PLANT: weak anthocyanin colouration at internodes only

LEAF: no variegation
LEAF BLADE UPPER SIDE: light green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
LEAF BLADE LOWER SIDE: red and green between the veins, very weak to medium intensity of red colouration between the veins, no anthocyanin colouration on midrib, very weak anthocyanin colouration on veins
PETIOLE: very weak anthocyanin colouration on upper side

FLOWER: double type, one colour, bright orange red on upper side, red pink and paler at centre on lower side
PEDICEL: absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration
SPUR: weak anthocyanin colouration, weak to medium degree of curvature

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balfiesalmo' originated from a cross conducted during February 2000 at Elburn, IL USA, as part of a controlled breeding program. The female parent is the proprietary Impatiens breeding selection designated 3468-1-6, characterized by its light cherry red flower colour, dark green leaf colour, and upright-mounded growth habit. The male parent is the proprietary Impatiens breeding selection designated 12865-2, characterizedby its medium cherry flower colour, medium green leaf colour, and upright-mounded growth habit. The initial selection was made on August 2000. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings. The selection criteria for 'Balfiesalmo' included its compact growth habit, good basal branching and dark green leaf colour.

Tests & Trials: PBR trials were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2007 in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials included 15 plants of the candidate and reference variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 9, 2007. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 28, 2007. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balfiesalmo' with reference variety 'Salmon Sunrise'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Main colour of Petal (RHS)

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Impatiens: 'Balfiesalmo' (left) with reference variety 'Salmon Sunrise' (right)

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Impatiens: 'Balfiesalmo' (left) with reference variety 'Salmon Sunrise' (right)