Chrysanthemum plant named Ultralight

A Chrysanthemum plant named Ultralight having daisy capitulum type and flat capitulum form, dark purple ray floret color, nine week flowering response, upright growth habit, and excellent color retention at high temperatures.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Dentrenthema 
morifolium, Ramat., previously Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., 
hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Ultralight. 
Ultralight is a product of a planned breeding program which had the 
objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars with daisy capitulum 
type, lavender ray floret color, rapid flowering response from the start 
of short days, and having the ability to produce commercially acceptable 
quality in year around pot mum programs. Such traits in combination were 
not present or needed improvement in previously available commercial 
cultivars. 
Ultralight was originated from a hybridization made in a controlled 
breeding program in West Chicago, Ill. in 1980. The female parent was 
Circus, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,188. The male parent of 
Ultralight was Twilight, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,043. 
Ultralight was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the 
progeny of the stated parentage by or under the supervision of Peter S. 
Hesse in November of 1981 in a controlled environment in Bradenton, Fla. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Ultralight was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February of 
1982 in a controlled environment in Bradenton, Fla. by a technician 
working under formulations established and supervised by Peter S. Hesse. 
Horticultural examination of selected units initiated December of 1982 has 
demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed 
for Ultralight are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
Ultralight 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. The 
following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 
in West Chicago, Ill. and Parrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which 
approximate those generally used in commercial practice. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Ultralight which in combination distinguish this 
Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Daisy capitulum type. 
2. Flat capitulum form. 
3. Very unique, dark lavender ray floret color. 
4. Diameter of 2-3" across face of capitulum. 
5. Upright growth habit. 
6. Nine (9) week flowering response. 
7. Excellent color retention at high temperature. 
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most 
similar in comparison to Ultralight is the female parent, Circus. In 
comparison to Circus, Ultralight is darker purple in color, has a more 
upright growth habit, better flower substance, is less sensitive to high 
or low temperatures, and has better color retention at high temperatures. 
The capitulum form and type and flowering response of Ultralight are 
similar to those same characteristics of Circus.