plant named ‘Balsolalimli’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolalimli’, characterized by its lime-green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsolalimli’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant botanically known as Ipomoea batatas and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsolalimli’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during January 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development of ornamental Ipomoea cultivars with a moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing habit.

The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,437, characterized by its bronze to purple-bronze colored foliage and compact-mounding growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ILLUSION Garnet Lace ‘NCORNSP-013GNLC’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,612, characterized by its burgundy-red colored foliage and compact, semi-upright, mounding growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2014 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. 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 ‘Balsolalimli’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant:

• • 1. Lime-green colored foliage; and
  • 2. Moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a lime-green colored foliage and foliage with a narrower central lobe. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different mature foliage color, smaller leaves, and a different petiole color.

Of the many commercially available ornamental Ipomoea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SolarPower Lime ‘Balsolalime’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,552. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolalime’ in at least the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar are smaller than plants of ‘Balsolalime’; and
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker colored petiole and lower surface leaf midvein color plants of ‘Balsolalime’.

In addition, the new cultivar can be compared to Ipomoea ‘Balsolared’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,686. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolared’ in at least the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different from plants of ‘Balsolared’;
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured by length and width, than plants of ‘Balsolared’; and
  • 3. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller width of the leaf central lobe than plants of ‘Balsolared’.

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 foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsolalimli’. The plants were grown in 15 cm pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse in Grand Rapids, Mich. Plants were pinched two weeks before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Balsolalimli’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Balsolalimli’.

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 R.H.S. 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 February 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were pinched one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

• Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas cultivar Balsolalimli.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,437.
    • Male parent.—ILLUSION Garnet Lace ‘NCORNSP-013GNLC’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,612.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
    • Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 to 4 days.
    • Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.
    • Root description.—Fibrous, medium thickness.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
    • Tuber description.—Not available, tuber formation not observed.
• Plant description:
  • • Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.
    • Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit.
    • Size.—Height: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 18.0 cm.
    • Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal branching. Quantity of main lateral branches per plant: Approximately 3, axils having latent shoots.
    • Branch.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong, slightly flexible. Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of young and mature stems: 145B with a heavy overlay of 187B when developing.
• Foliage description:
  • • General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 11. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate, spiral.
    • Leaves.—Shape: Roughly cordate in overall form, palmately divided with 5 lobes. Margin: Entire. Apex of central lobe: Acuminate. Apex of lateral lobes: Acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate with arcuate venation in the center lamina. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 7.5 cm. Length of central lobe: Approximately 7.5 cm. Width of central lobe: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 145A with slightly darker venation and a spot of 187B at leaf base. Color of lower surface of young foliage: Closest to 145B with venation of 145C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to N144D with venation of 145A and 187A at leaf base. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to but more green than 147D, venation of 145C with an overlay of 187B.
    • Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Between 145B and 145C with an overlay of 187B near leaf attachment.
• Flowering description: Not available, flower and seed formation not observed. The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is grown as a foliage plant and is not grown under conditions that are conducive to flower production.
• Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Ipomoea has not been observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolalimli’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.