plant named ‘Balscmelux’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balscmelux’, characterized by its double-type, medium red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Description

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

Variety denomination: ‘Balscmelux’.

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 ‘Balscmelux’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Illinois during August 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a double-type inflorescence form and a well-branched, semi-upright growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Double Scoop Cranberry ‘Balscanery’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,769, characterized by its double-type, red-purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selection coded Ech680, not patented, characterized by their single-type, dark red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during October 2017 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Illinois.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagation since October 2017 in West Chicago, Illinois 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 ‘Balscmelux’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

• • 1. Double-type, medium red-purple colored inflorescences;
  • 2. Dark green-colored foliage; and
  • 3. Moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a darker leaf color, wider disc florets and more ray florets per inflorescence. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of male parent primarily in having double-type and not single-type inflorescences, a lighter red-purple ray floret color, more branches per plant, and more inflorescences per plant.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Double Scoop Raspberry ‘Balsceras’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,117. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsceras’ in at least the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences per plant than plants of ‘Balsceras’;
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a red-purple ray floret color that is different from the coral-orange with purple ray floret color of plants of ‘Balsceras’; and
  • 3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer disc florets per inflorescence than plants of ‘Balsceras’.

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 may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balscmelux’. The plants were approximately six months old. The plants were grown in 2.5-quart containers for approximately two months in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Illinois.

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

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

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 June 2023 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Illinois.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately six-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Approximately three months after sticking, plants were transplanted three plants per 2.5-quart container utilizing a soilless growth medium and grown for five weeks. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Illinois and grown for approximately two months. Prior to transferring outdoors, plants were grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Illinois. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

• Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balscmelux’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Double Scoop Cranberry ‘Balscanery’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,769.
    • Male parent.—Proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selection coded Ech680, not patented.
• 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 49 to 56 days at 72° F. to 78° F. (21° C. to 24° C.).
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.
• Plant description:
  • • Commercial crop time.—Approximately 14 to 16 weeks from a rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm container.
    • Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial, moderately vigorous, semi-upright.
    • Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F./−34.4° C. to −31.7° C.).
    • Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 26.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.
    • Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately 4.
    • Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 5.0 cm to 11.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems: 146B with a heavy overlay of 187A.
• Foliage description:
  • • General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.
    • Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 145C.
    • Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 145B to 145C tinted faintly with 187A.
• Flowering description:
  • • Flowering habit.—‘Balscmelux’ is freely flowering blooming from late spring through late summer under outdoor growing conditions.
    • Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • General description.—Type: Solitary, composite, double. Persistent. Shape: Hemispherical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 9. Height: Approximately 6.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm.
    • Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 14.0 cm to 16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color: 146B with a heavy overlay of 187A.
    • Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 10. Shape: Flattened globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color: Outer ray florets of 186B with bud center of 187A.
    • Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21. Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Elliptic. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire. Apex: Two to three acute tips. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface when first open: 64A to 64B with 61B at base. Color of lower surface when first open: 186A to 186B tinted with 61A. Color of upper surface when fully open: 70B with 70A at apex and 61B at base, with senescence fades to closest to 186A. Color of lower surface when fully open: 186A to 186B tinted with 61A.
    • Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 5.0 cm. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 250. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Spatulate. Margin of free portion: Entire. Apex: Two to three acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube. Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter at widest point: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or inner surface when first open: 59C, tube portion of 146D with base of NN155D. Color of lower or outer surface when first open: 186B with 58A at apex. Color of upper or inner surface when fully open: 64B to 64C, tube portion of 146D with base of NN155D. Color of lower or outer surface when fully open: 186B with 59B at apex.
    • Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: 155D.
    • Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 50. Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards the peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 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 tinted with 187A. Color of lower surface: 137B heavily tinted with 187A.
    • Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc: Approximately 250. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of 167B with a heavy overlay and tip of 187A, mid-section of 146D, and base of NN155D.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only, vestigial. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Stamen length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma branch length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 187A. Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 187A. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: NN155D.
• Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
• Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea has not been observed.

Claims

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