Pelargonium Plant Named ‘KLEPZ24878’

Genus and species: Pelargonium zonale. Variety denomination: ‘KLEPZ24878’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of priority from Plant Variety Protection Certificate No. 24-3625 as filed on 13 May 2024, in Switzerland, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all they teach and disclose.

BACKGROUND

OF THE NEW PLANT The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Pelargonium , botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPZ24878’. ‘KLEPZ24878’ originated from a controlled cross in July 2019 in Juja, Kenya between the female Pelargonium variety ‘PZ-2017-7502’ (unpatented) and the male Pelargonium variety ‘KLEP03107’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,025). Seeds from the controlled cross were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A single plant was selected in June 2020 and subsequently named ‘KLEPZ24878’. In July 2020 ‘KLEPZ24878’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLEPZ24878’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via stem cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany. 1. Orange-red flower color; 2. Strong leaf zonation, and; 3. Vigorous growth. DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH This new Pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant in a pot. The photograph is of an approximately 14-week-old plant grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph was taken indoors in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2023. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPZ24878’. Data was collected on 12-week-old plants in Stuttgart, Germany grown under greenhouse conditions in March 2025. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5 th edition (2007). Classification: Family.— Geraniaceae. Botanical.—Pelargonium zonale. Common.—Pelargonium. Designation.—‘KLEPZ 24878’. Parentage: Female parent.— ‘PZ-2017-7502’ (unpatented. Male parent.— ‘KLEP03107’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,025). Plant: Form.— Bushy. Habit.— Mounding. Height ( from top of soil ).—17 cm. Width ( horizontal plant diameter ).—19.5 cm. Natural flowering season.— March to October. Propagation type.— Vegetative by stem cuttings. Time to produce a finished flowering plant.— 12 weeks. Time to initiate and develop roots.— 4 weeks. Root description.— Fine, dense, white, RHS 158A. Flower type.— Zygomorphic. Stems: Quantity of stems per plant.— 2 to 5. Color.— 144A. Surface texture.— Pubescent. Stem form.— Round. Diameter.— 0.7 cm. Length.— 4 cm to 7 cm. Internode length.— 1.3 cm. Anthocyanin.— 166A. Leaves: Arrangement.— Alternate. Shape.— Reniform. Apex.— Round. Base.— Closed. Margin.— Crenate. Surface texture both surfaces.— Pubescent. Length.— 8.0 cm. Width.— 8.0 cm. Color.— Upper surface: N137A. Lower surface: 137C. Zonation.— Strong, distance to base: 2.0 cm; distance to margin: 1.7 cm. Zonation color.— 200A. Depth of sinus.— 2.5 cm. Petiole.— Length: 4.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: 147A. Strength: Medium. Venation pattern.— Palmate. Venation color.— Upper surface: N137A. Lower surface: 144A. Inflorescence: Lastingness of flowers on the plant.— 6 to 8 days. Umbel.— Quantity of umbels per plant: 3 to 5. Length: 5.0 cm. Diameter: 8.0 cm. Individual florets of the umbel.— Quantity of florets per umbel: 9 to 12. Depth: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 5.0 cm. Fragrance.— Absent. Flower buds: Cluster shape.— Round. Cluster size.— Length: 1.0 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Surface texture.— Pubescent. Bud.— Height: 0.6 cm. Width: 0.5 cm. Shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Color: N199B. Petals: Quantity per flower.— 5 to 8. Shape.— Spatulate. Apex.— Round. Base.— Obtuse. Margin.— Entire. Length.— 2.7 cm. Width.— 2.5 cm. Surface texture:.— Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth. Color of lobes.— Upper lobes: Upper surface: 44A. Lower surface: 40A. Lower lobes: Upper surface: 44A. Lower surface: 40A. Markings.— Absent. Petaloids: Quantity per flower.— 3 to 4. Shape.— Crippled and deformed spatulate. Apex.— Round. Base.— Obtuse. Margin.— Entire. Length.— 1.2 to 1.5 cm. Width.— 1.2 cm. Surface texture.— Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth. Color.— Upper surface: 44A. Lower surface: 40A. Sepals: Number per flower.— 5. Shape.— Elliptic. Apex.— Acute. Base.— Obtuse. Margin.— Entire. Surface texture.— Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Pubescent. Color.— Upper surface: 46A. Lower surface: 46A. Length.— 1.0 cm. Width.— 0.4 cm. Pedicel: Length.— 2.3 cm. Diameter.— 0.2 cm. Color.— RHS 200B. Surface texture.— Pubescent. Strength.— Medium. Peduncle: Length.— 11.5 cm. Diameter.— 0.4 cm. Color.— 200B. Texture.— Pubescent. Strength.— Strong. Reproductive organs: Stamens.— Quantity per flower: 5 to 6. Anther length: 0.2 cm. Filament length: 0.7 cm. Filament color: NN155D at base, 33A at tip. Pollen amount: Medium. Pollen color: 34A. Pistils.— Number: 1. Stigma color: 46A. Style length: 0.3 cm. Style color: 46A. Ovary arrangement: Central. Ovary color: 200B. Ovary diameter: 0.2 cm. Ovary length: 0.4 cm. Ovary Texture: Pubescent. Fruit and seed set: None observed. Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed. COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY ‘KLEPZ24878’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1. TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Characteristic ‘KLEPZ24878’ Female parent Male parent Flower color Orange-red Red Red Leaf zonation Strong Very strong Medium ‘KLEPZ24878’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘Dolce Vita Sylvia orange’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2: TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEPZ24878’ Dolce Vita Sylvia orange Leaf zonation Strong Weak Vigor Vigorous Medium-compact Flower color Orange red Red orange