Coreopsis Redshift Hybrid Breeding for Cold Hardiness and Flower Size

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Coreopsis cultivars lack a combination of large, uniquely colored flowers, sturdy stems, and cold hardiness, particularly in U.S.D.A. Zone 5, which limits their garden durability and aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

The development of Coreopsis 'Redshift', a hybrid cultivar resulting from controlled breeding, featuring large composite inflorescences with light yellow and burgundy red coloration, sturdy stems, and vigorous growth habit, achieved through six generations of interspecific crosses, ensuring stability and cold hardiness to at least U.S.D.A. Zone 5.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing Coreopsis cultivars are used, then they have basic flowering capability, but they lack a combination of large uniquely colored flowers, sturdy stems, and cold hardiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold hardinessVSAvoidflower size and coloration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple desirable traits from different Coreopsis species through controlled hybridization. The breeding program merged cold hardiness from Zone 5-adapted species with large flower size and unique burgundy red coloration from other species, creating a hybrid cultivar that exhibits all three characteristics simultaneously rather than selecting for just one trait

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If existing Coreopsis cultivars are used, then they have basic growth capability, but they lack sturdy stems and vigorous growth habit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestem strengthVSAvoidflower production

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program selected for specific local improvements in plant architecture, particularly focusing on stem strength and structural vigor as distinct traits from flower production. The cultivar was developed with reinforced stem characteristics that provide structural support independent of flowering capacity, allowing the plant to maintain both strength and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If existing Coreopsis cultivars are used, then they have basic aesthetic appeal, but they lack unique coloration patterns and large flower size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflower sizeVSAvoidgarden durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program induced parameter changes in flower morphology and pigmentation through selective crossing. The cultivar was developed with enlarged flower dimensions (up to 6.3 cm diameter) and unique burgundy red coloration patterns that differentiate it from standard yellow-flowered cultivars, while simultaneously selecting for garden durability and cold hardiness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP20412P2Coreopsis plant named `Redshift`

Publication Date: 2009.10.13 PROBST DARRELL R

AI summary

A new cultivar of hybrid Coreopsis named ‘Redshift’ characterized its large inflorescences that are light yellow in color with a burgundy red eye zone during the warm growing season with the ray florets becoming flushed with burgundy red to solid burgundy red when cool temperatures in fall, its sturdy stems, its vigorous growth habit, and its perennial habit and cold hardiness to at least to U.S.D.A. 5.