A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named &#8216;Gum Drop Rose&#8217;, characterized by its compact, upright and uniform plant habit; freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy growth habit; green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit with numerous flowers per plant; and small mostly double flowers that are dark pink in color and held above and beyond the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia semperflorens , and hereinafter referred to by the name Gum Drop Rose .

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Begonia cultivars with double flowers and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Begonia originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1995, of the Begonia semperflorens cultivar Double Pink, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with the Begonia semperflorens cultivar Bazel, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The cultivar Gum Drop Rose was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan since 1999 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of Gum Drop Rose . These characteristics in combination distinguish Gum Drop Rose as a new and distinct Begonia cultivar:

2. Freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy growth habit.

5. Small mostly double flowers that are dark pink in color and held above and beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parent, the cultivar Double Pink, in leaf and flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Double Pink have bronze-colored leaves and pink-colored flowers. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Bazel, in flower form as plants of the cultivar Bazel have single flowers.

The new Begonia differs from plants of the Begonia semperflorens cultivars Gum Drop Mandarin, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/684,563, Gum Drop Pink, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/684,531, and Gum Drop Rose, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/684,525, primarily in flower coloration.

The new Begonia can also be compared to the Begonia semperflorens cultivar Queen Pink, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of the cultivar Queen Pink in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Begonia had smaller leaves than plants of the cultivar Queen Pink.

2. Plants of the new Begonia had smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar Queen Pink.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia were more often double than plants of the cultivar Queen Pink.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia did not produce pollen whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar Queen Pink produced pollen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer and fall in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 21 to 27 C., night temperatures about 16 to 18 C. and light levels about 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Unrooted cuttings were directly planted in 10-cm containers and grown for about seven weeks.

Time to initiate roots, summer. About 17 days at temperatures of 25 C.

Time to initiate roots, winter. About 21 days at temperatures of 23 C.

Time to develop roots, summer. About 25 days at temperatures of 25 C.

Time to develop roots, winter. About 32 days at temperatures of 23 C.

Plant form. Compact, upright and uniform plant habit; mounded inverted triangle; freely branching with about ten lateral branches per plant; dense and bushy growth habit. Flowers are mostly double and abundant.

Flowering habit. Mostly double flowers with numerous tepals arranged in axillary cymes. Freely flowering habit with typically five to six flowers per cyme. Many cymes in flower simultaneously. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage. Flowers not fragrant. Flowers not persistent.

Natural flowering season. Plants of the new Begonia flower year around; flowering continuous.

Flower longevity. Flowers last about ten days on the plant.

Seed/fruit. Seed and fruit production has not been observed as reproductive organs are not formed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Begonias.