‘Maroon Pride’ Chrysanthemum Has Seasonal or Year Round Dark Red Flowers

Summary: ‘Maroon Pride' chrysanthemum, cultivated by University of Minnesota breeder Richard Widmer, has seasonal or year-round dark red flowers.

closeup of ‘Maroon Pride’ chrysanthemum, developed by University of Minnesota, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station: University of Minnesota, David L. Hansen, CC BY 4.0, via Minnesota Hardy/University of Minnesota

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Maroon Pride,’ a new variety of common garden chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium; syn. Dendranthema grandiflora) invented by University of Minnesota breeder Richard E. Widmer, has rich dark red flowers and can be flowered year-round via photoperiod and temperature control.

On Nov. 21, 1988, Richard E. Widmer, principal investigator and mum breeder at the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his invention, a new chrysanthemum plant named ‘Maroon Pride.’ The inventor listed the Regents of the University of Minnesota as assignee. Primary examiner James R. Feyrer reviewed the application. On July 10, 1990, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted patent Plant 7,269 for a chrysanthemum plant named ‘Maroon Pride.’

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Maroon Pride’ is the product of a cross of unpatented cultivars Ruby Mound and Autumn Fire in 1981. The cross pertains to the chrysanthemum component of the University of Minnesota's ongoing Herbaceous Perennial Breeding Program. In October 1982, the inventor, a professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, discovered and selected a single flowering plant from the progeny of the cross. The inventor selected the seedling, now known as ‘Maroon Pride,’ on the basis of a high-mounded shape with early opening, large, dark red flowers. Propagation by vegetative cuttings, begun in March to April 1983, in St. Paul, Minnesota, demonstrated stable, true retention of favorable characteristics.

Field testing of ‘Maroon Pride’ plants took place in 1985, 1986 and 1987 at seven locations in Minnesota. Trials conducted from 1985 through 1987 tested ‘Maroon Pride’ as greenhouse grown, spring flowering plants. In March of each year rooted cuttings were potted in 3-inch (7.62-centimeter) containers. Stem tip removal by pinching occurred one week later. Successful forced blooms were achieved by way of long day, or natural, and short day, from 0800 to 1600 hours, photoperiods.

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Maroon Pride’ spreads to form a moderately sturdy, mounded shape. As an outdoor garden plant, ‘Maroon Pride’ reaches a height of 40 to 50 centimeters (inches). As a pot plant, the newly cultivated perennial rises 21 to 28 centimeters (8.26 to 11.02 inches) above the pot rim.

Foliage emerges as five to seven leaves for every 10 centimeters (3.93 inches) of stem. Ovate, or egg-shaped, leaves have deeply incised lobes. Leaves are pinnately veined, with smaller veins branching off from a main vein.

Leaf length measures 9 centimeters (3.54 inches). Leaf width measures about 5 centimeters (1.96 inches).

The application describes leaf upper and lower surfaces as spinach green.

The natural flowering season for ‘Maroon Pride’ runs from mid-August to mid-October. As proved by trials, ‘Maroon Pride’ also succeeds as a year-round flowering plant via photoperiod and temperature control. Flower longevity on the plant ranges from three weeks to one month. Florets are persistent, hanging on after blooming as dry relics.

‘Maroon Pride’ flowers comprise a head of many ray florets in a spray formation. Florets present little fading and little shine.

Floret colors are given for indoor plants in May and outdoor plants in September. Upper surfaces of inner and outer florets are cardinal red, with jasper red lower surfaces.

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Maroon Pride’ is a good garden performer, with a tolerance for hot or wet weather. The new cultivar decorates garden spaces, from a distance of six feet, with a general color tonality of cardinal red blooms indoors in May and currant red blooms outdoors in September.

‘Maroon Pride’ demonstrates the vibrancy of chrysanthemums as both seasonal and year-round superb garden performers.

‘Maroon Pride’ chrysanthemum, developed by University of Minnesota, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station: University of Minnesota, David L. Hansen, CC BY 4.0, via Minnesota Hardy/University of Minnesota

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

closeup of ‘Maroon Pride’ chrysanthemum, developed by University of Minnesota, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station: University of Minnesota, David L. Hansen, CC BY 4.0, via Minnesota Hardy/University of Minnesota @ https://plus.google.com/photos/112473780924896698706/album/6186647092353868049/6186647218169156850?authkey=CPC6qM7d9diivgE

‘Maroon Pride’ chrysanthemum, developed by University of Minnesota, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station: University of Minnesota, David L. Hansen, CC BY 4.0, via Minnesota Hardy/University of Minnesota @ https://plus.google.com/photos/112473780924896698706/album/6186647092353868049/6186647213242514466?authkey=CPC6qM7d9diivgE

For further information:

“Chrysanthemum.” New World Encyclopedia.
Available @ http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Chrysanthemum

“Chrysanthemum Classifications.” New York Botanical Garden Mertz LibGuides > Plant & Gardening Help > Chrysanthemum History and Flower Form.
Available @ http://libguides.nybg.org/content.php?pid=671296&sid=5780887

“Chrysanthemum Plant Named Maroon Pride.” United States Patent and Trademark Office > Program in Word (PIW). July 10, 1990.
Available @ http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=PP007269

International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. “Document TGP/14: Glossary of Technical, Botanical and Statistical Terms Used in UPOV Documents.” UPOV (Union Internationale Pour la Protection des Obtentions Végétales). Dec. 9, 2006.
Available @ http://www.upov.org/edocs/mdocs/upov/en/tc_edc/2007/tgp_14_draft_1_section_2_3_2.pdf