plant named ‘HG 1428’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant named ‘HG 1428’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaflets with lighter green-colored venation; freely flowering habit; greenish yellow and purplish red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Helleborus ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HG 1428’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Dec. 1, 2022, application number 2022/2746. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor or Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HG 1428’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus ericsmithii identified as code number P842, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent and a proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number O1579, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since April, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus 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 ‘HG 1428’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HG 1428’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

• • 1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.
  • 2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Dark green-colored leaflets with lighter green-colored venation.
  • 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Greenish yellow and purplish red-colored flowers.
  • 6. Good garden performance.

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

• • 1. Leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus are darker green in color than leaflets of plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are darker purplish red in color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

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

• • 1. Plants of the new Helleborus are not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter purplish red in color than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 4100’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,296. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 4100’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are greenish yellow and purplish red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘COSEH 4100’ are red purple to greyed purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus 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 Helleborus plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HG 1428’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘HG 1428’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early spring in 15-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12 C to 32 C and night temperatures ranged from 5 C to 12 C. Plants were 48 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 14 months old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Helleborus ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘HG 1428’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus ericsmithii identified as code number P842, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number O1579, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at temperatures about 12 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days at temperatures ranging from about 4 C to 15 C.
    • Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to brownish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit with flowers held above the foliar plane; plant shape, narrow inverted triangle; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.4 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 51.9 cm.
    • Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 53.8 cm.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.
    • Leaf length.—About 20 cm.
    • Leaf width.—About 22.3 cm.
    • Leaflet length.—About 12.5 cm.
    • Leaflet width.—About 8.1 cm.
    • Leaf shape.—Palmate; roughly reniform in outline.
    • Leaflet shape.—Broadly elliptic to ovate or obovate.
    • Leaflet apex.—Broadly apiculate to acute.
    • Leaflet base.—Attenuate.
    • Leaflet margin.—Serrate to biserrate; coarsely undulate.
    • Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; moderately glossy.
    • Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; slightly glossy.
    • Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate and reticulate.
    • Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation, close to 144A to 144B; midvein, proximally, tinged with close to 183B. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to a blend of 146A and 147B; venation, close to 183A. Fully developed leaflets, upper surface: Darker than a blend of 139A and 147A; venation, close to 144A and midvein, proximally, close to 200B. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 183A.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 15.4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm by 8 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B and proximally, close to 176B; heavily covered with fine dots, close to 183B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate bowl-shaped flowers arranged in panicles; freely flowering habit with about eight flowers per inflorescence and about 48 flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten months after planting; plants flower naturally during the late winter into the early spring in Germany.
    • Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 145B; towards the apex, tinged with close to 180B.
    • Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 50 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—About 22.1 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 8.1 cm.
    • Flower depth.—About 3 cm.
    • Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.
    • Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4.8 cm. Width: About 4.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate; slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse to broadly and bluntly acute. Base: Rounded to broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte to slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to a blend of 150C and 154C; towards the margins and apex, close to N77B and N186D; at the base, close to 145A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 154C; towards the margins and apex, close to 187C and 187D; venation, close to 187B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 151D; towards the margins and apex, close to 71A and N186D; at the base, close to 144B to 144C; venation, similar to lamina; color does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 154C to 154D; towards the margins and apex, close to 187B and 187C; venation, close to 187A to 187B; color does not change with subsequent development.
    • Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one. Length: About 6.7 cm. Width: About 4.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to oblong. Apex: Acute to three-lobed with acute tips. Base: Truncate to cuneate. Margin: Proximally, entire; distally, occasionally, finely serrate; slightly coarsely undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A; midvein, close to 183B.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 41 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm to 9 mm. Aspect: About 10 degrees from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 151A to 151B; heavily covered with fine dots, close to 176D.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Aspect: About 40 degrees from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 151A to 151B; moderately covered with fine dots, close to 176D.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 50. Filament length: About 1.7 cm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform; basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150B. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: Close to 4D to lighter than 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About five to seven. Pistil length: About 1.6 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 154C. Style length: About 1.55 cm. Style color: Close to 182A; proximally, close to 182C. Ovary color: Close to N144D. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower: About 13 to 15. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Tubular, flattened; apices, obtuse. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, immature, inner surface: Close to 146D; towards the apex, close to 151B. Color, immature, outer surface: Close to 146D; towards the apex, close to 151B; at the base, close to 146C. Color, mature, inner surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex, close to 151B; venation, similar to lamina color; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to N144A and distally, close to 153B to 153C. Color, mature, outer surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex, close to 151B; at the base, close to 146C; venation, similar to lamina color; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to N144A; towards the apex, close to 153B to 153C; at the base, close to 151A.
    • Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high temperatures about 35 C and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus plants.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘HG 1428’ as illustrated and described.