USOOPP12175P2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US PP12,175 P2 Waterer et al. (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 30, 2001

(54) PLANT NAMED “ROZANNE (52) U.S. Cl...... Pit/324 (58) Field of Search ...... Plt./324 (75) Inventors: Gomer Donald Waterer; Rozanne Patricia Waterer, both of Bridgewater; Primary Examiner Bruce R. Campell Paul Gooderham, Diss, all of (GB) Assistant Examiner Anne Marie Grinberg (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Foley & Lardner (73) ASSignee: plays of Bressingham, Ltd., Norfolk (57) ABSTRACT c: - 0 A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this Rozanne, characterized by its large Single violet-blue flow patent is extended or adjusted under 35 erS with white centers and purple-Violet veins, profuse U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. flowering, Vigorous yet relatively low growth habit, deeply cut and divided green leaves, and its long flowering period (21) Appl. No.: 09/257,301 beginning9. 9. in mid-June and continuing9. into earlvy November (22) Filed: Feb. 25, 1999 or the first frost. (51) Int. Cl." ...... A01H 5/00 2 Drawing Sheets

1 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 6. The flowers have a classic “crane's bill' shape which characterizes the . The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar The flowers of Rozanne are similar in shape to the parent of hardy perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Geranium, Buxtons Variety (unpatented), but the large Single violet a member of the family, and known by the blue flowers with white centers and purple-violet veins cultivar name 'Rozanne. distinguish from Buxtons Variety. The leaves of Rozanne' This new cultivar originated from a croSS carried out by resemble the leaves of the pollen parent both in shape and in inventors Gomer Waterer and Rozanne Waterer in Kilve, the characteristic of retaining green foliage color well into Bridgewater, Somerset, England. The seed parent was a the Autumn. cultivar of Geranium wallichianum referred to as 'Buxtons 1O variety. The pollen or male parent was an unnamed cultivar of Geranium himalayense. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The new cultivar was Selected from the progeny of the In the accompanying color photographs, Stated croSS by the inventors in Bridgewater, Somerset, England. Subsequent asexual reproduction by division per 15 FIG. 1 comprises a front perspective view of of the formed by the inventor Paul Gooderham in Bressingham, new cultivar. England has established that the unique combination of The photograph comprising FIG. 2 is a close-up view characteristics as herein disclaimed for the new cultivar are showing the single violet-blue flower with white center and fixed and retained through Successive generations of asexual purple-Violet Veins. reproduction. The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with THE INVENTION variations in environment Such as temperature, and light intensity without, however, any variance in the genotype. All color determinations and comparisons are based on 25 The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Charts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following traits have been repeatedly observed and Plant: are determined to be basic characteristics of the new cultivar, Origin.-Seedling selection from Geranium walli which in combination distinguish the new cultivar from chianum cv. 'Buxton Variety (seed parent) and a others: cultivar of Geranium himalyense (pollen parent). 1. Its compact bush clump habit produces profuse and Type.-Herbaceous perennial. continuous flowering in England from mid-June Habit.-Clump forming. through early November or until the first frost. Size.- Mature plants are 40 cm in height with a spread 35 of 60 cm. 2. Large, Single violet-blue flowers with white centers and Root System.-Fleshy. prominent purple-violet veins. Plant vigor:- A perennial that shows Vigorous and 3. The deeply cut divided green leaves make a pleasing healthy growth throughout Great Britain in British backdrop to the many large Single violet-blue flowers. Isles climate. 4. The plant thrives best in full sun and well-drained soil, 40 Blooming habit. Showy single violet-blue flowers are and does not grow well in dry shade conditions. The arranged in dichasial cymes. new cultivar is ideal for use in borders and containers. Blooming period.-From mid-June continuing into 5. Vigorous yet relatively low growth and flowering habit. early November or until the first frost. US PP12,175 P2 3 4 Hardiness. Winter hardy throughout the British Isles. Peduncle color:- Yellow-green RHS 144 B with a The plant has not been fully tested for maximum slight red flush at flowering of RHS red 46 B. summer tolerance about 32° C. (90°F). Foliage: Age.—Beginning 2" growing season. Arrangement.-Leaves in pairs, 5 deeply cut lobed Growing conditions.-Observed at Bressingham, divisions. England under normal conditions. Texture.- Both upper and lower Surfaces are hairy. Growth.-Produced by tissue culture, it will divide Whole leaf length.-6 cm. every 4-6 weeks. Plants grown from plugs week 14 Whole leaf width.-9 cm. will have matured to 7.5 inches by week 32. Petiole length.-8 cm. Flowers: Petiole color-RHS yellow-green 145 A to RHS red 46 Petals.-Five veined petals of equal size per flower. B from late Summer onwards. Petal size.-Length 25 mm.; Width 25 mm. Margins.-Parted. Petal texture.-Soft, silky. Apex.- Acute. Petal Shape.-Heart-shaped. Base.-Sagittate. Flower Shape.- Bowl-shaped. Color:- Mature leaves, upper surface 137A, under Sur Flower type.-Cordate or triangular. face 138B; leaf margins have tint of red-purple 72A. Flower size.-5 cm in diameter. Immature upper leaf surface, yellow-green RHS 144 Stamens. Anthers are absent from 1 every 4 flowers; A; immature under surface yellow-green RHS 146 they also drop off other flowers after approximately C. Immature upper leaf surface, flushed red RHS 53 5 days. There are 10 anthers per flower. Anther size A. is 3 mm. Anther color is purple RHS 79 A. Reproductive organs: Upper Surface color:-The main petal color of mature Pistils.-1, purple RHS 79 A. flowers is approximately 90A, with a much lighter Fertility-Sterile. transition area (92D) to a white center. The true main Seed-None. color is best shown in the flowers appearing near the Fruit.-None. bottom of FIG. 1. The veins are approximately 81A Pest and disease resistance: Typical of , no in color and are very prominent in the transition area observed disease resistance. and center. I claim: Lower surface color:- Violet-blue RHS 90D. 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium named Sepal color:- Upper side, green RHS 138 B; under Rozanne, as shown and described. side, green RHS 138A. k k k k k U.S. Patent Oct. 30, 2001 Sheet 1 of 2 US PP12,175 P2

U.S. Patent Oct. 30, 2001 Sheet 2 of 2 US PP12,175 P2