<i>Pelargonium </i>plant named ‘Regarwhite’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium plant named ‘Regarwhite’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; and white-colored flowers.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Regal Geranium plant named ‘Regarwhite’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Regal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Regal Geranium plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Regarwhite’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter, spring and summer in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Thiendorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Regal Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were given a eight-week cooling treatment at 9° C. to enhance flower development. Plants were five months old when the photograph was taken and seven months old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Pelargonium grandiflorum ‘Regarwhite’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of Pelargonium grandiflorum, not patented. Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of Pelargonium grandiflorum, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at temperatures about 20° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at temperatures about 20° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures about 20° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 18° C. Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; broad inverted triangle; densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit; medium growth rate; freely basal branching habit with about five primary lateral branches each with five secondary lateral branches developing per plant. Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 28 cm. Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 34 cm. Plant width.—About 50 cm. Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Texture: Moderately pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144A. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate and opposite; simple. Length.—About 6 cm. Width.—About 6.7 cm. Shape.—Rhomboid. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cordate, open. Margin.—Serrate with shallow and divergent indentations. Venation pattern.—Palmate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent; leathery; semi-glossy. Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146B. Zonation pattern: None discernible. Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; medium glossiness. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Flower description: Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly depending on position on the inflorescence; freely flowering habit; about three flowers per umbel and numerous umbels developing per plant. Fragrance.—None detected. Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about five months after planting; in outdoor gardens in Germany, plants flower during the spring and summer; plants do not require a cooling treatment for flower initiation and development, however a cooling period of eight weeks at 9° C. will enhance overall plant quality. Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent. Umbel height.—About 7.5 cm. Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm. Flower diameter.—About 6 cm by 7 cm. Flower depth (height).—About 3 cm. Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Spindle-shaped. Texture and luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 146B. Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single whorl; petals imbricate. Length, upper petals: About 4.2 cm. Length, lower petals: About 4.5 cm. Width, upper petals: About 3.8 cm. Width, lower petals: About 2.6 cm. Shape, all petals: Obovate. Apex, all petals: Rounded. Base, all petals: Cuneate. Margin, all petals: Entire; moderately undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, all petals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D; venation, close to 155D; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D; venation, close to 155D; color does not change with subsequent development. Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Angle: Slightly outwardly slanted. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 146A. Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Angle: Slightly outwardly slanted. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 146B. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About eleven. Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color: Close to 72A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 171B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma diameter: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 61A. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to 61C. Ovary color: Close to 147C. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Regal Geranium. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Regal Geranium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Regal Geranium plants. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C.