'Snowsota' Chrysanthemum Has Seasonal or Year-Round White Pompom Flowers

Summary: ‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum, a University of Minnesota mum bred by Richard Widmer, has seasonal or year-round white pompom flowers with yellow centers.

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum, developed by Richard E. Widmer at University of Minnesota, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station: University of Minnesota, David L. Hansen, CC BY 4.0, via Minnesota Hardy/University of Minnesota

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum, a new garden mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium; syn. Dendranthema grandiflora) by University of Minnesota breeder Richard E. Widmer, has seasonal or year-round white pompom flowers with light yellow centers.

On Nov. 21, 1988, inventor Richard E. Widmer filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a chrysanthemum plant named ‘Snowsota.’ The inventor listed the Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, as assignee. Primary examiner Robert E. Bagwill reviewed the application. On Nov. 20, 1990, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted patent Plant 7,381 for a chrysanthemum plant named ‘Snowsota.’

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum originates in a cross breeding of two unpatented cultivars, Spartan and Chiquita’s Rival, conducted in 1981 by the inventor, a professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture. The cross is part of an ongoing chrysanthemum breeding project.

In October 1982, the inventor discovered and selected a flowering plant, then identified as Minnesota Selection (NM Sel.) 82-135-88, from the progeny of the cross. The inventor selected the seedling, now known as ‘Snowsota,’ for such favorable characteristics as early floral opening, coloring and pinking-resistance at low temperatures. Propagation by vegetative cuttings, beginning in March to April 1983, revealed stable, true retention of the new cultivar’s favorable traits.

Field testing and trials took place over three years, from 1985 through 1987. Field tests occurred at seven locations in Minnesota. Greenhouse trials tested ‘Snowsota’ as a spring flowerer in 3-inch (1.18-centimeter) pots. Potting of rooted cuttings happened March 15 of each year. One week later stem tip removal by pinching occurred. Forced blooms succeeded via both long day, or natural, and short day, from 0800 to 1600 hours, photoperiods.

The inventor finds that flowering in the field test plots of the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus usually starts in August’s last week. Field tests and trials demonstrate the viability of ‘Snowsota’ as both a greenhouse pot plant and an outdoor garden plant for the commercial sector.

The newly cultivated perennial shrub has a height range of 30 to 40 centimeters (11.81 to 15.74 inches) as an outdoor garden plant. ‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum rises about 10 to 19 centimeters (3.93 to 7.48 inches) above the rim as a potted plant.

Growth habit features spreading, stiff stems that form an informally mounded shape topped with long-lasting blooms. Foliage appears as seven to eight leaves for every 10 centimeters (3.93 inches) of stem.

Ovate, or egg-shaped, leaves have generally incised lobes. Leaf surface is minutely textured with down, described as puberulent. Pinnately veined leaves comprise a main vein branched with smaller veins.

The application describes upper and lower surfaces of leaves as spinach green.

The natural flowering season for ‘Snowsota’ runs from the end of August to the end of October. Greenhouse trials show ‘Snowsota’ as a year-round bloomer by way of photoperiod and temperature control.

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum bears flowers as a head of many persistent ray florets in a generally open spray formation. The flower head has a pompom shape.

Broadly obtuse florets are slightly fringed at the tips. Firmly textured florets have a clean, non-shiny appearance.

The application for ‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum gives colors for indoor potted plants in May and outdoor plants in September. Upper surfaces of outer florets are white in May and clean, snow-white in September. Reverse surfaces are white in May and in September. Inside florets have sulfur yellow upper and lower surfaces in both May and September.

‘Snowsota’ experiences very little color changes. Yellow centers fade to white. Minimal pinking may occur at low temperatures.

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum performs well in indoor and outdoor settings and offers long-lasting blooms both seasonally and year-round. White pompom flowers with yellow centers that fade to white top stiff stems with clean, spinach green leaves to present a pleasant, informally mounded shape. ‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum blends well, seasonally and year-round.

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum, developed by Richard E. Widmer at 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:

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum, developed by Richard E. Widmer at 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/6186645353901835761/6186645544317837554?authkey=CMjDi9H2l8ricw

‘Snowsota’ chrysanthemum, developed by Richard E. Widmer at 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/6186645353901835761/6186645544317837554?authkey=CMjDi9H2l8ricw

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 Snowsota.” United States Patent and Trademark Office > Program in Word (PIW). Nov. 20, 1990.
Available @ http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=PP007381

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

Marriner, Derdriu. "'Maroon Pride' Chrysanthemum Has Seasonal or Year Round Dark Red Flowers." Earth and Space News. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/10/maroon-pride-chrysanthemum-has-seasonal.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "‘Minngopher’ Chrysanthemum Has Seasonal or Year Round Dark Red Flowers." Earth and Space News. Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/10/minngopher-chrysanthemum-has-seasonal.html