Phlox plant named ‘USPHL02’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHL02’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; attractive purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored star pattern at the center, freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHL02.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name USPHL02.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new pot-type Phlox cultivars with numerous flowers with attractive coloration.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Apr. 25, 2000 in Hikone Shiga, Japan of two unidentified selections of Phlox hybrida, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif., on Jun. 24, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 5, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar USPHL02 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USPHL02’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USPHL02’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

• • 1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.
  • 2. Vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Attractive purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored star pattern at the center.
  • 4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.
  • 5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Phlox are more vigorous than plants of the parent selections.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of the parent selections.
  • 3. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to the other selections of Phlox hybrida, not patented, known to the Inventor. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hikone Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the Inventor in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous than plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the Inventor.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time than plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the Inventor.
  • 3. Plants of the new Phlox were more high-temperature tolerant than plants of other selections of Phlox hybrida known to the Inventor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USPHL02’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘USPHL02’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices during the summer. Plants were about four weeks when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 to 35° C. and day temperatures ranged from 7 to 18° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHL02.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not patented.
    • Male parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots.—About one to two weeks.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three to four weeks.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant form/habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted triangle; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching with about five main stems per plant each with multiple secondary lateral branches.
    • Plant height.—About 18 cm.
    • Plant width (spread).—About 36 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146C.
    • Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile. Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Slightly auriculate; clasping. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly coarse; pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate; arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 147A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers arranged in terminal panicles; flowers face upright and outward. Panicles roughly hemispherical in shape. Freely flowering habit with about 24 to 36 flower buds and flowers per lateral branch.
    • Fragrance.—Very faint, sweet.
    • Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring through fall in Southern California Flowers persistent.
    • Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on the plant.
    • Inflorescence height.—About 2.5 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated ovoid. Color: 201A overlain with 77D.
    • Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth: About 1.7 cm.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly flat; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: 77B; towards the base, 77C; central star pattern, 67A. Developing petals, lower surface: 69D overlain with 77C. Fully expanded petals, upper surface: 77B; central star pattern, 66A. Fully expanded petals, lower surface: 69D.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Apicular; recurved. Apex: Acuminate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Orientation: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color: 144C.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Orientation: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 14A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 150C. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color: 145A.
• Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to Phlox.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from −3 to 38° C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHL02’, as illustrated and described.