plant named ‘PHL090401’

Abstract

A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘PHL090401’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant form; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; lavender-colored flowers; long flowering period; and relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Description

Botanical designation: Phlox hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PHL090401’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PHL090401’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous and mounding Phlox plants with early flowering habit and long flowering period.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 28, 2007 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Phlox hybrida identified as code number 07FL-02, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Phlox divaricata, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on Sep. 10, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since Sep. 16, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox plant have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions 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 ‘PHL090401’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PHL090401’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

• • 1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant form.
  • 2. Vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy plant form.
  • 4. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Lavender-colored flowers.
  • 6. Long flowering period.
  • 7. Relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew.

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

• • 1. Plants of the new Phlox have broader leaves than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phlox flower earlier than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 3. Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light lavender pink-colored flowers.

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

• • 1. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller leaves than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have lavender purple-colored flowers.
  • 3. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 4. Plants of the new Phlox are more resistant to Powdery Mildew than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phlox subulata×Phlox stolonifera ‘PPPHL07301’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,702. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘PPPHL07301’ differed in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Phlox were taller than plants of ‘PPPHL07301’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phlox flowered earlier than plants of ‘PPPHL07301’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘PPPHL07301’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘PPPHL07301’ had purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phlox subulata×Phlox stolonifera ‘PPPHL07201’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,705. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘PPPHL07201’ differed in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Phlox were taller than plants of ‘PPPHL07201’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phlox flowered later than plants of ‘PPPHL07201’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘PPPHL07201’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘PPPHL07201’ had violet blue-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant 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 accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘PHL090401’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PHL090401’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 25-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of Phlox production. Four plants were planted in a container and the description was taken on single plants. During the production of the plants, day temperature ranged from 16° C. to 27° C., night temperatures ranging from 7° C. to 14° C. and light levels ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were five months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida ‘PHL090401’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox hybrida identified as code number 07FL-02, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Phlox divaricata, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.
    • Root description.—Thin to medium in thickness; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit, about 20 primary laterals each with numerous secondary laterals; relatively short internodes; dense and bushy plant form.
    • Plant height.—About 32 cm.
    • Plant width (spread).—About 28 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 34 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color, developing: Close to 146A. Color, fully developed: Close to N199A.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.
    • Length.—About 5.6 cm.
    • Width.—About 1.2 cm.
    • Shape.—Lanceolate.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Rounded; clasping.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture, upper surface.—Scattered pubescence.
    • Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C; venation, close to 146D.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower form and flowering habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers arranged in small terminal and axillary cymes, each cyme with five to seven flowers; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with more than 500 flowers developing per plant.
    • Fragrance.—Faint; sweet floral.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about four to six weeks after planting; long flowering period with plants continuously flowering from spring to autumn in California.
    • Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on the plant; flowers not persistent.
    • Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 94C.
    • Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.5 cm to 6.5 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm.
    • Flower depth.—About 2.5 cm.
    • Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm.
    • Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.
    • Flower tube diameter, at base.—About 2 mm.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About 1.7 cm. Lobe width: About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Erose. Margin: Entire. Texture: Petal lobes, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Petal lobes, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat: Smooth, glabrous. Tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petal lobes, upper surface: Close to N88C. Developing petal lobes, lower surface: Close to 92C. Fully expanded petal lobes, upper surface: Close to N88C to N88D; towards the throat, close to N88B; venation, close to N88C; color becoming closer to 92B to 92C to 92D with development. Fully expanded petal lobes, lower surface: Close to 92B; venation, close to 92B. Flower throat: Close to 92A; venation, close to 92A. Flower tube: Close to N88C; venation, close to N88C.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically five in a single whorl, fused towards the base into a slender tube and reflexed towards the apex. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Angle: About 30° to 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Tri-parted. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 144A.
    • Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Phlox.
• Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted to be relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Phlox plants.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain and wind and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘PHL090401’ as illustrated and described.