Old Finnish zonal geraniums

The pelargoniums have been an important part of the Finnish horticultural culture. Pelargoniums have been changed and they have gone along from the families to the friends and in the migrations from one locality to another. The living cultural heritage with its stories which is related to the tradition pelargoniums is threatened by disappearance. This project combines the collecting of the important plant material and identification. The objective of the project is:

1. To examine and to analyze the multiformity of old pelargonium clones, to focus variety names and relationships by using morphologic distinctive marks and genomic identification methods based to DNA markers.

2. Combine the morphologic characteristics, results of the genomic identification and the history information of plant stocks. Also, uniform variety descriptions which promote the preservation of plant clones.

3. Maintain and share information about the old pelargonium varieties, promote the making marketable products and preservation of old geranium clones.

In the project altogether 91 clones of old Finnish pelargonius (Pelargonium Zonale-group) and a few old foreign standard varieties are examined. The main material was obtained from the collection collected by Finnish pelargonium association and Tiina Hiltunen in the cooperation. The communication part of the project is supported by the Leader financed project leaded by Luke, Varsin hyvät vanhat pelakuut (2020-2022).