US-PP37409-P2 - Geranium plant named ‘Dark Roast’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Geranium maculatum plant named ‘Dark Roast’ that is characterized by its flowers that are vibrant fuchsia in color with white throats, its green-burgundy-bronze colored foliage that persists through the summer and into fall with consistent moisture, its palmate-shaped leaves, and its blooming period due to high heat tolerance.

Inventors

• Steven Castorani

Assignees

• North Creek Nurseries

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20250815

Claims (1)

1. 1 . A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Dark Roast’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

Botanical classification: Geranium maculatum. Cultivar designation: ‘Dark Roast’. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Geranium maculatum ‘Dark Roast’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Dark Roast’. ‘Dark Roast’ is a new cultivar of herbaceous perennial grown for use as a garden plant. ‘Dark Roast’ was discovered by the Inventor as a chance seedling in a garden plot in Landenberg, Pennsylvania in May of 2017. The exact parentage is unknown, however it is most likely a seedling of open pollinated ‘Espresso’ (not patented) based on its characteristics and its proximity to the new cultivar as the new cultivar was found growing in garden plot of ‘Espresso’. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by division under the direction of the Inventor in Landenberg, Pennsylvania in April of 2021. Asexual propagation by division and tissue culture tissue using meristematic tissue has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of ‘Dark Roast’. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Dark Roast’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium. 1. ‘Dark Roast’ exhibits flowers that are vibrant fuchsia in color with white throats.2. ‘Dark Roast’ exhibits green-burgundy-bronze colored foliage that persists through the summer and into fall with consistent moisture.3. ‘Dark Roast’ exhibits palmate-shaped leaves.4. ‘Dark Roast’ exhibits a long blooming period due to high heat tolerance. The probable parent plant differs from ‘Dark Roast’ in having lighter bronze colored foliage that does not last as long in the season, lighter colored flowers and lower heat tolerance. ‘Dark Roast’ can be most closely compared to the Geranium cultivars ‘Huggy Bear’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 36,258) and ‘Elizabeth Ann’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,252). ‘Huggy Bear’ is similar to ‘Dark Roast’ in having dark green-burgundy-bronze foliage and a long blooming period. ‘Huggy Bear’ differs from ‘Dark Roast’ in having flowers that are lighter and less vibrant in color, a less floriferous blooming habit, and foliage that is lighter in color. ‘Elizabeth Ann’ is similar to ‘Dark Roast’ in having dark colored foliage, and a similar blooming period. ‘Elizabeth Ann’ differs from ‘Dark Roast’ in having flowers that are light pink in color and darker colored foliage. STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/or sales that fall within a one-year grace period to the filing date. Disclosures includes a website listing by American Beauties Native Plants. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Geranium. The photographs were taken of seven-year-old plants of ‘Dark Roast’ as grown outdoors in a garden in Hockessin, Delaware. The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of ‘Dark Roast’ in bloom. The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Dark Roast’. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium. DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT The following is a detailed description of one year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in one-gallon containers in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 6th edition Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General characteristics: Blooming period.—Mid-April through May 6 to 8 weeks of bloom time.Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.Plant habit.—Compact mound, broadly spreading.Height and spread.—Average of 13.5 cm in height and 16 cm in spread in the landscape.Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8.Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to diseases or pests has been observed.Root description.—Slightly fleshy, 164C in color.Root development.—12 weeks for root initiation from tissue culture, 16 weeks to produce a young rooted plant.Propagation.—Division a