Photinia plant named ‘Parbri’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Photinia plant named ‘Parbri’ characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; greyed-purple stem coloration; leaves that are greyed-purple when developing and yellow-green when fully expanded; and undulating leaves with serrulate margins.

Description

Botanical classification: Photinia glabra.

Variety denomination: ‘Parbri’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Photinia plant, botanically known as Photinia glabra, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Parbri’.

The new Photinia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Kulnurra, NSW Australia. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Photinia cultivars with attractive habit and foliage.

The new cultivar originated from open pollination with Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (not patented) as the female parent with an unknown male parent in 1996. The cultivar ‘Parbri’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 1997 as a single plant within the progeny.

The first asexual reproduction of the new Photinia was in 1997 by terminal cuttings taken at Kulnurra, Australia. The unique features of this new Photinia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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

• • 1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.
  • 2. Greyed-Purple stem coloration.
  • 3. Leaves that are greyed-purple when developing and yellow-green when fully expanded.
  • 4. Lightly undulating leaves with serrulate margins.
  • 5. Leaf shape elliptical.

The closest comparison cultivar is the female parent ‘Red Robin’. Plants of the new Photinia were compared to plants of the Photinia cultivar ‘Red Robin’. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Kulnurra, Australia, plants of the new Photinia differed from plants of the cultivar ‘Red Robin’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Photinia had more lateral branches than ‘Red Robin’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Photinia had a more compact habit than ‘Red Robin’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Photinia have elliptical leaves while ‘Red Robin’ has oblanceolate shaped leaves.
  • 4. Plants of the new Photinia have darker leaves than ‘Red Robin’.
  • 5. Plants of the new Photinia have shorter leaves than ‘Red Robin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the distinguishing traits of Photinia ‘Parbri’.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side view of a 2 year old plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a leaf.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

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

The following is a detailed description of the new Photinia cultivar named ‘Parbri’. Data was collected Kulnura, NSW Australia from plants raised in 250 mm pots in commercial grade, soilless potting mix in full sun. The plants were grown on their own roots from cuttings. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition.

• Botanical classification: Photinia glabra cultivar ‘Parbri’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Photinia ‘Red Robin’.
    • Male parent.—Unknown.
• Propagation: Terminal cuttings.
• Time to initiate roots: About 60 days at 20 degrees Centigrade.
• Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 120 days at 20 degrees Centigrade.
• Root description: Medium thickness; dark brown in color.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant form.—Upright and outwardly spreading perennial evergreen shrub.
    • Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Dense and bushy growth habit.
    • Plant height.—1.5 m.
    • Plant width.—About 1.5 m.
• Lateral branches: Quantity per plant: About 11. Length: About 70 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 183A to 183B.
• Foliage description: Stems: Color Greyed-Purple 183A; diameter 4 mm. Leaves alternate, single, and generally symmetrical. Length: About 71.6 mm. Width: About 30.3 mm. Shape: elliptical. Apex: cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrulate; lightly undulating. Texture: Glabrous; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Initially 185A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Initially 184B. Mature leaves, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 143A. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A overlain with anthocyanin, 183A to 183B. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Arrangement/appearance: One stipule on either side of the base of the petiole; scale-like. Length: About 11 mm. Color: Upper surface: green flushed red.
• Flower description: Flowers have not been observed.
• Disease/pest resistance: In comparison to other known Photinia cultivars, plants of the new Photinia have been observed to be relatively more resistant to pathogens and pests common to Photinia.
• Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Photinia have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from −15 degrees to 42 degrees Centigrade.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Photinia plant named ‘Parbri’, as described and illustrated.