plant named ‘Balevoeen’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balevoeen’, characterized by its single-type, purplish-pink colored inflorescences that first open a reddish-orange color and darken to a purplish-red color with age, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balevoeen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balevoeen’.

The new Echinacea cultivar is a novel seedling selection from ‘Cheyenne Spirit’, protected under a breeding method claim in U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, a segregating mix characterized by single-type inflorescences having a range of flower colors that include shades of red, orange, purple, scarlet, cream, yellow and white, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant and selected during June 2014 in a controlled environment in Dayton, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagation since April 2015 in Dayton, Oreg. 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 ‘Balevoeen’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

• • 1. Single-type, purplish-pink colored inflorescences that first open a reddish-orange color and darken to a purplish-red color with age;
  • 2. Medium green-colored foliage;
  • 3. Low growth vigor; and
  • 4. Compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in having a novel combination of characteristics including ray floret color, ray floret size, and plant habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SOMBRERO Hot Coral ‘Balsomcor’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,097. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomcor’ in at least the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar have more main stems per plant than plants of ‘Balsomcor’;
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a fully open ray floret color that is more purplish-pink colored than the reddish-orange colored ray florets of plants of ‘Balsomcor’; and
  • 3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer ray florets per inflorescence than plants of ‘Balsomcor’.

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 inflorescence and 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 ‘Balevoeen’. The plants were approximately seven months old and grown outdoors in Dayton, Oreg. in one-gallon containers.

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

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balevoeen’.

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 August 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately seven-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown utilizing a soilless growth medium under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers in a glass-covered greenhouse for approximately five months. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

• Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balevoeen’.
• Parentage:
  • • Parent.—‘Cheyenne Spirit’, protected under breeding method claim of U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are possible.
    • Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at 18° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately 30 days at 18° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.
• Plant description:
  • • Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm container.
    • Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial, low growth vigor, compact-upright.
    • Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to −26° C.).
    • Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 30.0 cm. Width: Approximately 26.0 cm.
    • Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately 6.
    • Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 25.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young stems: 146C. Color of mature stems: 146B.
• Foliage description:
  • • General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.
    • Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire to shallowly serrate, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 8.0 cm to 10.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with venation of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 147D.
    • Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm to 5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 147D occasionally tinted with 187A.
• Flowering description:
  • • Flowering habit.—‘Balevoeen’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming from late spring through late summer and with limited flowering under short winter days in a greenhouse environment.
    • Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 7. Height: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm.
    • Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color: 146B.
    • Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Shape: Flattened globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color: Outer ray florets of 150D; bud center of 143A.
    • Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 14. Arrangement: In a single whorl, some slightly imbricate. Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending slightly with age. Shape: Elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate to notched. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface when first open: 34B to 34C. Color of lower surface when first open: 155D with an underlay of 34B and 144A at apex. Color of upper surface when fully open: 70C, with age darkening to 70A to 70B. Color of lower surface when fully open: 155D with an underlay of 70C and 144B at apex.
    • Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 150. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or inner surface when first and fully open: 146C with an overlay of 187A on upper third. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 146C with an overlay of 187A on upper third that is heaviest on margins, and base of 155D.
    • Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Color: 155D.
    • Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 30. Arrangement: In whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards the peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Sparsely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.
    • Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc: Approximately 150. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of 22A with 187A at tip, mid-section of 144A with 137A, and base of 155D.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 17B. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid, curled. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: N186A. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145D with 187A near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 155D.
• Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
• Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balevoeen’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.