Coreopsis Darling Clementine Compact Habit Long Bloom
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Coreopsis cultivars lack a combination of compact growth habit, long blooming season without deadheading, resistance to powdery mildew and leafspot, and cold hardiness to at least U.S.D.A. Zone 4, with limited flower color options and fertility issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of the Coreopsis 'Darling Clementine' cultivar, resulting from controlled breeding, which exhibits a compact plant habit, long blooming season, resistance to powdery mildew and leafspot, cold hardiness to Zone 4, and unique medium orange inflorescence colors, achieved through asexual propagation by stem cuttings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If Coreopsis cultivars are bred for long blooming season without deadheading, then bloom duration is improved, but fertility is reduced (sterile inflorescences)
Solution Approach 1:
The cultivar exhibits sterile inflorescences as a parameter change that eliminates seed production, allowing continuous blooming without the natural cessation that occurs when seed sets in fertile varieties. This sterility parameter enables the long blooming season from mid-June until frost without requiring deadheading.
2Volume of moving object
If Coreopsis cultivars are bred for compact plant habit, then plant size is reduced, but growth vigor may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cultivar exhibits a compact plant habit with upright leafy flowering stems that maintain vigor through optimized local growth characteristics. The plant achieves a balanced form with flowers held above foliage, creating a compact yet vigorous appearance suitable for landscape and container use.
3Reliability
If Coreopsis cultivars are bred for resistance to powdery mildew and leafspot, then disease resistance is improved, but genetic diversity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cultivar has been propagated asexually by stem cuttings to maintain the specific disease-resistant genotype. This copying method preserves the resistant traits while allowing widespread propagation of the single successful genotype that exhibits resistance to powdery mildew and leafspot.
4Temperature
If Coreopsis cultivars are bred for cold hardiness to U.S.D.A. Zone 4, then hardiness is improved, but flowering period may be shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The cultivar is planted and established in the landscape or container with the understanding that it will bloom from mid-June until frost. The cold hardiness to U.S.D.A. Zone 4 allows the plant to survive winter conditions and maintain its extended flowering period through fall frosts, effectively utilizing the preliminary establishment to achieve long-season performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A new cultivar of hybrid Coreopsis plant named ‘Darling Clementine’ that is characterized by its compact plant habit reaching an average of 40 cm in height and 60 cm in width, its floriferous and long blooming season of its sterile inflorescences that do not require deadheading; bloom commences in mid-June and lasts until frost in Kensington, Conn., its large sized inflorescences with ray florets that are medium orange in color and flushed with yellow near the tips, its resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis) and leafspot (Pseudomonas cichorii), and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 4.