A new cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ that is characterized by low compact spreading habit, dark purple-green foliage, and bright fushsia-red flowers. In combination these traits set ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ apart from all other varieties of Geranium known to the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of cranesbill plant grown as an ornamental for use in border, rock garden, container, or groundcover for the landscape. The new variety is known botanically asGeranium×hybridaand will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’.

The newGeraniumvariety named ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is the product of a formal breeding program established by the inventor in 1985 at the inventor's nursery in Kirkwall, Orkney, United Kingdom. The purpose of the breeding program was to identify scientific connections between species ofGeranium,and to produce new and interesting garden worthy plants with unusual combinations of characteristics. Two new varieties that resulted from this breeding program areGeranium‘Sabani Blue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,305) andGeranium‘Westray’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,716).‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is a seedling selection arising from the inventor's controlled cross-pollination of an unnamed seedling ofGeranium×antipodeumas the female parent, and an unnamed seedling ofGeranium×oxonianumas the male parent.

Geranium×antipodeumis the taxonomic name accorded to hybrids betweenGeranium traversiiandGeranium sessiliflorum.The derivation of the particular plant ofGeranium×antipodeumused by the inventor is described herein.

Geranium×oxonianumis itself a hybrid from the cross betweenGeranium endressiiandGeranium versicolor.

The breeding process which produced ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ proceeded as follows:

First, in 1992, the inventor successfully cross-pollinated a plant ofGeranium sessiliflorum‘Porters Pass’ (seed parent, unpatented) with a plant of the speciesGeranium×traversii(pollen parent, unpatented). The resulting seed was germinated in 1993, then flowered in 1994 and an individual seedling was selected in 1994 for further hybridization.

Second, in 1995, the individual seedling selected from the foregoing cross was used as seed parent and backcrossed with a plant ofGeranium sessiliflorum‘Porters Pass’ as pollen parent. The resulting seed was germinated in 1996, followed by flowering and selection of a single promising seedling in 1997.

Finally, in 1997, the single promising seedling as above was used as seed parent and crossed with an individual plant ofGeranium oxonianum(pollen parent, unpatented). The resulting seed was germinated in 1998, then flowered in 1999. The inventor selected an individual seedling, ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ from this group of flowering seedlings.

During the breeding process, the flowers of each seed parent were emasculated at the early head stage to prevent self-pollination; which is a problem of small-flowered species, and bagged to prevent cross-pollination. Flowers were collected in the early morning and checked with a lens to ensure that the pollen had not been disturbed. The flowers were kept in a warm room free from pollinators, and the anthers would release the pollen later in the day. The female flower was checked with a lens to ensure that no pollen had been left during emasculation, and was then pollinated with pollen from the male flower — which had been checked with a lens to ensure the pollen was undisturbed. The glassine bag was replaced and remained in place until the seed was collected, or the cross was determined unsuccessful.

The female parent of ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ no longer survives, but was a low-growing plant with dark brown leaves and small white flowers. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is distinguishable from the female parent by greater spreading of habit, leaf colour, leaf shape, flower colour and flower size.

The male parent of ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’,Geranium oxonianum,exhibits small bushy clumping habit, green leaves, and medium-sized reddish-purple funnel-shaped flowers. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is distinguishable from the male parent by habit, leaf color, flower color, and flower size.

‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ was selected by the inventor in 1999. Selection was based on a combination of plant habit, leaf size, leaf shape, leaf color, and flower color. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is characterized by compact low spreading habit, large dark purple-green leaves, and large bright fuchsia-red flowers. Cultural requirements are freely-draining soil, full sun and adequate but not excess water. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is hardy to USDA Zone 5.

‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ was first asexually propagated in 2000 in Orkney, United Kingdom. Asexual propagation was accomplished by the inventor, utilizing the method of division. Under careful observation ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ has been determined stable, uniform, and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newGeraniumvariety ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’. The traits in combination distinguish ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ from all other varieties ofGeraniumknown to the inventor. The new invention has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.1. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ exhibits low compact spreading habit.2. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ exhibits bright fuchsia-red flowers.3. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ exhibits dark purple-green foliage.4. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ blooms in spring, summer, and fall.5. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is 12 cm. in height and 23 cm. in diameter at maturity.6. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is asexually propagated by the methods of softwood cuttings and division.7. Cultural requirements for ‘CHERRY ORKNEY’ are freely-draining soils, full sun, and adequate but not excess water.8. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is hardy to USDA Zone 5.9. ‘ORKNEY CHERRY’ is not susceptible to any pests or disease known to the inventor.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT