Azalea plant named Karma

An azalea plant named Karma particularly characterized by its evergreen foliage, semi-double flowers, dark pink flower color, free branching, compact semi-upright plant habit, uniform flowering response in a year round controlled program, and by its good cooler tolerance and keeping quality.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea, a 
greenhouse forcing type hereinafter referred to as Karma. 
Karma, identified as 2-3 during the selection process, originated from a 
planned cross hybridization between two selected breeding lines in a 
controlled breeding program in Babenhausen, Germany by the inventor Karl 
Glaser. 
The female, or seed parent of Karma is an unnamed seedling having large 
pink single shaped flowers, a round habit, and dark green foliage. The 
male, or pollen parent is an unnamed seedling, with red funnel-shaped 
flowers, a round habit, and green foliage. 
Karma was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny 
of the stated cross by the inventor Karl Glaser in January 1982 in 
Babenhausen, Germany. 
The first asexual reproduction of Karma was accomplished when vegetative 
cuttings were taken from the initial selection in April 1982, in 
Babenhausen, Germany, by technicians working under formulations 
established and supervised by Karl Glaser. 
Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive 
generations of plants derived from cuttings taken from the original 
selection has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as 
herein disclosed for Karma are fixed and retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
Karma has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. 
The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such 
as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any 
variance in the genotype. 
The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants 
that were grown in Salinas, Calif. in a controlled greenhouse environment 
and following a commercial schedule. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Karma, which in combination distinguish this 
azalea as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. A dark-pink flower color (between 57D and 58C) upon opening, fading to a 
lighter pink (67D) as flowers age. 
2. Semi-double flowers, with the flowers ranging from 7.0 to 10.0cm in 
diameter, with 8.5cm the average size. 
3. Compact, semi-upright, free branching plant habit. 
4. Uniform response in year round controlled flowering programs, forcing in 
20 days on average. 
5. Long lasting flowers, with flowers in a simulated home environment 
lasting up to two weeks. 
6. Medium green pubescent evergreen foliage, leathery in appearance. 
7. Good foliage retention and no flower bud damage when cooled for 6 weeks 
with no lighting at 38.degree. F.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in 
comparison to Karma is the cultivar Solitaire, disclosed in U.S. Plant 
Pat. No. 3,171. General flower color (pink category) and flower response 
are similar. Karma differs from Solitaire in that the flowering Karma are 
larger and darker pink in color. The foliage of Karma also is darker green 
and larger than that of Solitaire. 
In the following description color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determined on 
Apr. 20, 1995. All readings were taken in an office under cool white 
fluorescent lights, facing a west window between the hours of 10:00 a.m. 
and 2:00 p.m. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Rhododendron hybrida evergreen type, c.v. `Karma`. 
Commercial.--Florist forcing pot azalea. 
INFLORESCENCE 
A. Flowers (General): 
Size.--7.0 to 10.0 cm. 
Borne.--Terminal cluster, usually 2 per bud, ranging from 1-3. Often more 
than one bud per stem. 
Form.--Semi-double funnel-form. 
Blooming habit.--Once, profusely. Buds easily and uniformly in a year round 
program. The majority of terminal buds break color within one week of the 
first. Flowering begins approximately 20 days after the start of forcing. 
Fragrance.--None. 
B. Corolla (Petals): 
Texture.--Soft. 
Substance.--Heavy. 
Shape.--Rounded. 
Color (fully open).--Generally between 57D and 58C, fading to 67D as 
flowers age. Upper surface: Edge: Between 57D and 58C. Center: Between 57D 
and 58C. Base: 58D. Lower surface: 61D. Blotch: 61C. 
C. Bud: 
Size.--Medium. 
Shape.--Conoidal. 
Color.--66C. 
Bud sheath.--Immature: Light green with light brown hairs. Mature: Brown 
with light brown hairs. 
D. Calyx: 
Form.--Rounded. 
Color.--144A. 
E. Peduncle: 
Length.--0.5 to 1.6 cm. 
Strength.--Strong. 
Aspect.--Pubescent. 
F. Reproductive organs: 
Androecium (stamens).--Number: 0 to 5. Many are fully or partially 
petaloid. Anthers: Pink. Filaments: Length: 0.0 to 1.9 cm. Color: Dark 
pink. 
Gynoecium (pistil).--Stigma: 91A. Style: Length: 1.6 to 3.8 cm. Color: 91C. 
Ovary: Pubescent. 
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS 
A. Foliage: 
Type.--Evergreen. 
Arrangement.--Alternate. 
Shape.--Elliptic. 
Size.--Length: 2.0 to 7.2 cm. Width: 1.0 to 3.5 cm. 
Margin.--Entire. 
Color.--Immature: Upper Surface: Between 143C and 144A. Lower Surface: 
146C. Mature: Upper Surface: 147A. Lower Surface: 147B. Texture: Leathery. 
Tomentum: Present on upper surface. Insignificant. 
B. Stems: 
Color.--Immature: 144A. Mature: 165A. Tomentum: Present, but insignificant. 
C. Plant habit: Compact, semi-upright bush which achieves a uniform, 
symmetrical plant in a six inch pot when pinched three times. Total crop 
time to the dormant budded stage is 40-42 weeks to produce a plant 26-34cm 
in diameter and 24-33cm in total height. Internode lengths vary from 
2-17mm. 
D. Branching habit: Free branching, producing 3-4 breaks when a vegetative 
cutting is pinched. 
E. Rooting: Roots easily in 8 to 10 weeks with 75.degree. F. soil 
temperature. 
F. Budding ease: Plants produce flower buds easily and uniformly year round 
with the use of commercially available plant growth regulators. Karma has 
a medium natural season response time. 
Cooler tolerance: Plants placed in a cooler as a means of breaking dormancy 
perform well. Karma is tolerant of six weeks in an unlighted cooler at 
38.degree. F. without foliage loss or bud damage. 
H. Blooming: Plants reach the stage of 12 buds showing color in 20 days on 
average after the cooler treatment. This varies from 13 to 30 days 
depending upon temperature and stage of flower bud development at the 
start of forcing. Karma flowers uniformly and profusely across the plant 
and down the sides. 
I. Shelf life: When plants are moved to an office environment at the stage 
of eight open flowers they maintain an attractive appearance for up to two 
weeks. Flowers are somewhat persistent, only occasionally dropping as 
flowers become old.