New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisupnic Pur’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Fisupnic Pur’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; medium green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large bright purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FISUPNIC PUR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fisupnic Pur’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and vigorous New Guinea Impatiens cultivars with large and attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2002 in Hillscheid, Germany of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K02-0167-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K02-0185-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant with the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal in March, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal since June, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Fisupnic Pur has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fisupnic Pur’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fisupnic Pur’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens:

• • 1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit.
  • 2. Freely branching habit.
  • 3. Vigorous growth habit.
  • 4. Medium green-colored leaves.
  • 5. Freely flowering habit.
  • 6. Large bright purple-colored flowers.
  • 7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant size as plants of the female parent selection were more compact.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Impatiens are shorter and flower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatiens cultivar Fisnics Purpink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,753. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Impatiens were taller than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.
  • 2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.
  • 3. Plants of the new Impatiens had longer and narrower leaves than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.
  • 4. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purpink.
  • 5. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Fisnics Purpink differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatiens cultivar Kilogia, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,935. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Kilogia in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Impatiens were larger and more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Kilogia.
  • 2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Kilogia.
  • 3. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Kilogia.
  • 4. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Kilogia differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatiens cultivar Fisnics Purple, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,728. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purple in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purple.
  • 2. Plants of the new Impatiens had narrower leaves than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Purple.
  • 3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Fisnics Purple differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Impatiens, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Fisupnic Pur’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, in containers and under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures averaging about 16° C. Rooted young plants had been growing for about ten to twelve weeks when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fisupnic Pur.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K02-0167-1, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K02-0185-2, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at temperatures of 22° C. to 24° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at temperatures of 20° C. to 22° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days at temperatures of 22° C. to 24° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days at temperatures of 20° C. to 22° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; dull to creamy white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit. Freely branching habit with about eleven lateral branches; pinching is typically not required. Vigorous growth habit.
    • Plant height.—About 15.7 cm.
    • Plant diameter.—About 27.8 cm.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Length.—About 10 cm to 14 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 7 mm.
    • Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.
    • Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.
    • Color.—Between N170B and 173B.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Typically in whorls; simple.
    • Length.—About 11.9 cm.
    • Width.—About 3.3 cm.
    • Shape.—Elliptical, narrow.
    • Apex.—Acuminate.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.
    • Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Between 137D and 143A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 138B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137C; venation, close to 144B, towards the base, 48B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 138B; venation, 53B.
    • Petiole length.—About 3.3 cm.
    • Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.
    • Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.
    • Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—47A to 47B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary flowers. Freely flowering habit; usually about six to nine open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and typically face upright or outward. Flowers last about one week under greenhouse conditions. Petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent. Flowers not fragrant.
    • Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering from spring until fall in Germany. Plants begin flowering about nine to ten weeks after planting.
    • Flower size.—Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About 7.9 cm. Depth: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 67A.
    • Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 3.8 cm. Length, lateral petals: About 3.8 cm. Length, lower petals: About 4 cm. Width, banner petal: About 5.7 cm. Width, lateral petals: About 4.2 cm. Width, lower petals: About 4.5 cm to 4.6 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate; rounded. Base: Acute to attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: N66A. When opening, lower surface: 67A. Fully opened, upper surface: Between N66A and N74A. Fully opened, lower surface: 67B.
    • Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147C. Spur length: About 5.6 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 3 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: 53C to 53D.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 180A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at anthers; filaments free. Anther diameter: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Anther color: 11D; spot, 66C to 66D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Star-shaped. Stigma color: 11D. Style color: 11D. Ovary color: 143A.
    • Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been observed.
• Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea Impatiens.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Fisupnic Pur’ as illustrated and described.