plant named ‘SSCWH03-0’

A new and distinct Scaveola cultivar named ‘SSCWH03-0’ is disclosed, characterized by a very compact plant that remains compact in warm weather as well as remaining compact as it ages. Flower color is white, and flowering occurs densely throughout the plant. The new variety is a Scaveola, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

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Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Scaveola aemula.

Variety denomination: ‘SSCWH03-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Scaveola cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Steve Jones, in a commercial greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Scaveola varieties that remain compact in warm weather.

The new variety originated as a seedling from the open pollination of various, Scaveola aemula, varieties. Most varieties were unnamed and unpatented however, one of the varieties used was Scaveola aemula ‘Blue Wonder’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,929. The actual seed parent is unknown as seed was bulk harvested from the collection of Scaveola plants. The open pollination resulting in the bulk collected seed was organized by the inventor in a commercial greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. in 2008. The new variety was selected in September of 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SSCWH03-0’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed during October of 2009, at a research greenhouse in a commercial greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SSCWH03-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘SSCWH03-0’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SSCWH03-0’ as a new and distinct Scaveola cultivar:

    • 1. Dense, compact plant form.
    • 2. Plants remain compact with age.
    • 3. Plants remain compact in warm weather.
    • 4. White flower petals.
    • 5. Dense flowering throughout the plant, including in the center.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SSCWH03-0’ cannot be compared to either seed or pollen parent, as the exact parents are unknown. As compared to the general population of plants in the parent grouping of plants, ‘SSCWH03-0’ produces significantly more compact plant habits.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar are best compared to the commercial variety Scaveola aemula ‘Bomy Whit’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,790. Plants of the new variety produce smaller and lighter colored foliage. Additionally, plants of the new variety are significantly more compact, and remain more compact in high temperatures, than ‘Bomy Whit’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SSCWH03-0’ grown in a greenhouse, in Oxnard, Calif., in a commercial 1 gallon container. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 10 weeks from an unrooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical inflorescence of ‘SSCWH03-0’.

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

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SSCWH03-0’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 28° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

  • Botanical classification: Scaveola aemula cultivar ‘SSCWH03-0’.

PROPAGATION

  • Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 20° C.
  • Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

  • Growth habit: Compact, creeping, outwardly spreading annual.
  • Pot size of plant described: 1 gallon pot.
  • Height: Approximately 6 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 11 cm to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot.
  • Plant spread: Approximately 35 cm.
  • Growth rate: Moderate.
  • Branching characteristics: Moderately well branched. Approximately 8 to 12 primary branches per plant.
  • Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm.
  • Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.35 cm.
  • Quantity of lateral branches: About 30 to 40.
  • Stem:
      • Color.—Near RHS Green 143B.
      • Texture.—Pubescent.
  • Internode length: Average 4.2 cm.
  • Age of plant described: Approximately 10 weeks from 3 rooted cuttings.

FOLIAGE

  • Leaf:
      • Arrangement.—Opposite.
      • Quantity.—Approximately 6 fully expanded per main branch.
      • Average length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.
      • Average width.—Approximately 1.8 cm.
      • Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.
      • Apex.—Broadly acute.
      • Base.—Attenuate.
      • Attachment.—Sessile.
      • Margin.—Entire, with 5 dentations, including apex.
      • Texture of top surface.—Scabrous.
      • Texture of bottom surface.—Softly pubescent.
      • Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C.
      • Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143C.

FLOWER

  • Natural flowering season: Flowering from early Spring through late Summer.
  • Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers single occurring from leaf axils. Clustered at terminus.
  • Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 1 week on the plant.
  • Quantity of flowers: Average 5 buds and 5 fully opened flowers per stem. Mature plants have approximately 100 open flowers at one time.
  • Individual flowers:
  • Size:
      • Diameter.—Approximately 3.0 cm.
      • Length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.
      • Persistence.—Non-persistent.
      • Fragrance.—Faint.
  • Corolla:
      • Petal arrangement.—5 petals, fused from base, to approximately 50% of length, forming a half tube. Separated portion radiating into a semi-circle/fan shape.
      • Margin.—Entire.
      • Apex.—Retuse.
      • Shape.—Unfused potion, oblanceolate.
      • Length.—Unfused portion: 1.6 cm. Half Tube: 1.4 cm.
      • Width.—Unfused portion: 0.7 cm. Half Tube: 0.4 cm.
      • Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.
  • Color: Separate Petals.
      • When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS White 155 C with faint center streak Yellow-Green 145A. Lower surface: Near RHS White 155 C with faint center streak Yellow-Green 145A, surrounded by faint streaks Green-Yellow 1B.
      • Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS White 155 C. Lower surface: Near RHS White 155 C with faint center streak Yellow-Green 145A, surrounded by faint streaks Yellow-Green 150C.
      • Fading.—Upper surface: Near RHS White 155 C. Lower surface: Near RHS White 155 C with faint center streak Yellow-Green 145A, surrounded by faint streaks Yellow-Green 150C.
  • Color: Half-tube.
      • When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C, faint streaks Yellow-Green 145B.
      • Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1B, upper section blotch near Green 143C. Lower surface: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1B, upper section blotch near Green 143C.
      • Fading.—Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow 2B, upper section blotch near Green 143C. Lower surface: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1B, upper section blotch near Green 143C.
  • Bud:
      • Shape.—Narrow conical.
      • Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.
      • Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.
      • Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.
  • Calyx:
      • Length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.
      • Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.
  • Sepals:
      • Quantity.—2 small and 1 larger sepal.
      • Shape.—Oblanceolate.
      • Length.—Average 0.7 cm.
      • Width.—Average 0.4 cm.
      • Margin.—Entire.
      • Apex.—Acute or retuse.
      • Texture.—Softly pubescent. Color: Mature: Near RHS Green 137B, all surfaces.
  • Peduncle:
      • Length.—Average 0.3 cm.
      • Diameter.—0.1 cm.
      • Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.
      • Orientation.—Approximately 45 degree angle from attachment.
      • Strength.—Strong.
      • Texture.—Softly pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

  • Stamens:
      • Number.—5.
      • Filament length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.
      • Filament color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 165C.
  • Anthers:
      • Shape.—Elliptic.
      • Length.—Approximately 1.5 mm.
      • Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 166B.
      • Pollen.—Pollen production not observed.
  • Pistil:
      • Number.—1.
      • Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.
      • Style.—Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Color: Near Green-Yellow 1B.
      • Stigma.—Shape: Flattened deltoid, with 2 linear protrusions at widest point on each edge. Texture: Papillose. Color: Near RHS White 155C. Ovary color: Near RHS Green 143C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

  • Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.
  • Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Scaveola have been observed.
  • Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures between 5 to 40° C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Scaveola plant named ‘SSCWH03-0’ as herein illustrated and described.

Patent History
Patent number: PP24894
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 20, 2012
Date of Patent: Sep 16, 2014
Inventor: Steve Jones (Santa Monica, CA)
Primary Examiner: Annette Para
Application Number: 13/694,342
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Scaevola (PLT/363)
International Classification: A01H 5/00 (20060101);