A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Starlet Pink,’ having a uniform domed and round habit. The new variety produces a uniform canopy of small pink single flowers and good foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum morifolium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemumbotanically known asChrysanthemum morifolium,and referred to by the cultivar name ‘Starlet Pink.’

‘Starlet Pink,’ identified as 30912-0, originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The female parent of the new variety is an undistributed, unpatented seedling identified as ‘G15E2.’ The male parent of the new variety is the unpatented variety known as ‘Leyla.’ The new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Starlet Pink’ is a garden type ofChrysanthemumplant variety having a domed-round habit carrying a uniform canopy of small pink single flowers.

Comparison with Female Parent

Plants of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ are similar to the parent variety ‘G15E2’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ differed from plants of the parent ‘G15E2’ in the following characteristics.1. The new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ produces pale pink flowers whereas the parent ‘G15E2’ produces purple flowers.2. Plants of the new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ have a more domed and round habit than plants of the parent ‘G15E2.’3. Flowers of the new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ are larger than flowers of the parent variety ‘G15E2.’

Comparison with Male Parent

Plants of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ are similar to the parent ‘Leyla’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ differed from plants of the parent ‘Leyla’ in the following characteristics.1. The new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ produces pale pink flowers whereas the parent ‘Leyla’ produces yellow flowers.2. Plants of the new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ have a more round domed habit than plants of the parent ‘Leyla.’3. Plants of the new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ are less vigorous than plants of the parent ‘Leyla.’

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ are dissimilar to the unpatented but distributed variety ‘Dove’ in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ differed from plants of the variety ‘Dove’ in the following characteristics.1. The new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ produces pale pink flowers whereas ‘Dove’ produces deeper pink flowers.2. Plants of the new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ have shorter and less inflorescence than plants of the variety ‘Dove.’3. Plants of the new variety ‘Starlet Pink’ are less vigorous than plants of the variety ‘Dove.’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the newChrysanthemumvariety ‘Starlet Pink’ is of plants grown outside, natural season, in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom in the month of June. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a gardenChrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 50° F. at night and about 65° F. to 75° F. during the day under natural light conditions. The plants were grown outdoors in mid-June in 4 liter pots using a loamless compost. No growth retardants were used. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typical container size for commercial growth is 4 liter (8″). It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 25 days with a response time of about 10 weeks natural season. The new variety is suitable for growth in a temperature range of 50° F. to 75° F.

The new variety may be produced as a pot plant. The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a garden pot plant. In the description of this newChrysanthemumvariety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

The plants were grown for 10 weeks in natural season conditions.Propagation:Type.—Vegetative via Stem Cuttings.Time to rooting.—12 days with soil temperatures of 70° F.Rooting habit.—Fine and Fibrous.

Foliage

Flower

Reproductive Organs