Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Sutera cordata.
Variety denomination: ‘Balmecoluim’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant botanically known as Sutera cordata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balmecoluim’.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, California during August 2018. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Sutera cultivars that have large-sized flowers and a mounded-trailing growth habit suitable for hanging basket, and container use.
The new Sutera cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection coded SUT-0766-001, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection coded SUT-1221-001, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2019 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, California.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2019 in Arroyo Grande, California and West Chicago, Illinois has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balmecoluim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant:
- 1. Light violet-colored flowers;
- 2. Dark green-colored foliage;
- 3. Low growth vigor; and
- 4. Mounded-trailing growth habit.
Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having lighter violet-colored flowers, reduced growth vigor, a more mounded growth habit, and more branches per plant. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having lighter violet-colored flowers, more branches per plant, a more trailing growth habit, and increased heat tolerance.
Of the many commercially available Sutera cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is MegaCopa Blue ‘Balmecoblu’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balmecoblu’in at least the following characteristics:
- 1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter corollas than plants of ‘Balmecoblu’; and
- 2. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches per plant than plants of ‘Balmecoblu’.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balmecoluim’. The approximately 4-month-old plants were grown in 12-inch hanging baskets with three plants per basket for approximately 8 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given three pinches prior to transplant.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balmecoluim’.
FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of individual flowers of ‘Balmecoluim’.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2023 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.
The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 4-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Illinois grown in 12-inch hanging baskets with three plants per basket utilizing a soilless growth medium for approximately 8 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given three pinches prior to transplant and were grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 75° F. to 80° F. (24° C. to 27° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18° C. to 21° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used during propagation stage. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
- Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘Balmecoluim’.
- Parentage:
- Female parent.—Proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection coded SUT-0766-001, not patented.
- Male parent.—Proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection coded SUT-1221-001, not patented.
- Propagation:
- Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
- Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.
- Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 weeks.
- Root description.—Fibrous.
- Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
- Plant description:
- Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm container.
- Growth habit and general appearance.—Low growth vigor, mounded-trailing growth habit.
- Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 12.0 cm. Width: Approximately 58.0 cm.
- Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching increases basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 7.
- Branch.—Strength: Strong, slightly flexible. Length: Approximately 26.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of mature stems: 146B.
- Foliage Description:
- General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 32. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.
- Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to perpendicular to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with base of midvein of 146D other venation indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation of 146D to indistinguishable.
- Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 146D.
- Flowering description:
- Flowering habit.—‘Balmecoluim’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from early spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.
- Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.
- Flower description:
- General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately 100. Fragrance: None detected.
- Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per plant: Approximately 20.
- Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 145C.
- Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm.
- Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex: Rounded. Length from tube: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, with sparsely pubescent base. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: Closest to N87C with a very faint overlay of N80A at base. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: N87D with NN155D at base. Color of upper surface when fully open: Closest to N87C to N87D with a very faint overlay of N80A at base.
- Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely pubescent at throat opening. Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with N25A and 21A at throat opening. Color of outer surface: NN155D with an underlay of N25A.
- Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm.
- Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape: Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 137A.
- Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B.
- Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, didynamous, base adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length of longer pair: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stamen length of shorter pair: Approximately 9.0 m. Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately 6.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D. Anther shape: Obovoid. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 13C and NN155D at base. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Linear slightly arched, rounded apex. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145B. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.
- Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
- Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Sutera has not been observed.
Patent Grant
PP36169
