plant named ‘HM 1224’

A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant named ‘HM 1224’, 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; dark red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

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Description

Botanical designation: Helleborus ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HM 1224’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘HM 1222’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Nov. 14, 2023

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 18/389,446

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 2022/2784. 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 ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HM 1224’.

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 January 2015 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus ballardiae identified as code number P482, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent and a proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number O1633, 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 ‘HM 1224’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HM 1224’ 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. Dark 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. Leaf venation of leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus is more distinct than leaf venation of leaflets of plants of the female parent selection.
    • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are dark red in color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are creamy white to pink in color.

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

    • 1. Leaf venation of leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus is more distinct than leaf venation of leaflets of plants of the male parent selection.
    • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are dark red in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are pink in color.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus ‘HM 1222’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘HM 1222’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have dark red-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘HM 1222’ have greenish white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 4200’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,297. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 4200’ in the following characteristics:

    • 1. Leaf venation of leaflets of plants of the new Helleborus is more distinct than leaf venation of leaflets of plants of ‘COSEH 4200’.
    • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are dark red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘COSEH 4200’ are pink 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 ‘HM 1224’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HM 1224’.

 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 25 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 ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus ‘HM 1224’.
  • Parentage:
      • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus ballardiae identified as code number P482, not patented.
      • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus x hybridus identified as code number 01633, 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 slightly above the foliar plane; plant shape, roughly flattened globular; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
      • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 27 cm.
      • Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 41 cm.
      • Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 74.4 cm.
  • Leaf description:
      • Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.
      • Leaf length.—About 20.8 cm.
      • Leaf width.—About 25.4 cm.
      • Leaflet length.—About 13.2 cm.
      • Leaflet width.—About 7.3 cm.
      • Leaf shape.—Palmate; roughly reniform in outline.
      • Leaflet shape.—Elliptic to broadly ovate or broadly obovate.
      • Leaflet apex.—Acute.
      • Leaflet base.—Attenuate.
      • Leaflet margin.—Serrate to biserrate; slightly coarsely undulate.
      • Leaflet texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous and tough; slightly glossy.
      • Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate and reticulate.
      • Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to a blend of 147A and N189A; venation, close to 144A; midvein, proximally, close to 187A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147A to slightly darker than 147A and strongly tinged with close to N186C and 187A. Fully developed leaflets, upper surface: Darker than a blend of 139A and N189A; venation, close to 143A; midvein, proximally, close to a blend of 200A and 203C. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to a blend of 146B and 147B; venation, close to N199A and N199B.
      • Petioles.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm by 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly to moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to a blend of 146B and 147B; moderately to heavily covered with fine dots, close to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B; moderately to heavily covered with fine dots, close to N199A and N199B.
  • Flower description:
      • Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate bowl-shaped flowers arranged in panicles; freely flowering habit with about five to ten flowers per inflorescence and about 100 flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly to slightly nodding.
      • Fragrance.—None detected.
      • Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten months after planting; plants flower naturally from 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 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte to slightly glossy. Color: Close to N77A.
      • Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 42.1 cm.
      • Inflorescence diameter.—About 20.2 cm.
      • Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm.
      • Flower depth.—About 2.7 cm.
      • Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.
      • Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate; slightly to moderately concave. Apex: Broadly and bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 187B to 187C; towards the base, close to 146B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 187B; towards the base, close to 187A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187B; towards the base, close to 146B; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 187B; towards the base, close to 187A; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not change with subsequent development.
      • Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one. Length: About 5.3 cm. Width: About 4.1 cm. Shape: Ovate to broadly oblong. Apex: Acute to cleft or three-parted with acute tips. Base: Truncate to obtuse. Margin: Proximally, entire, and distally, finely serrate; coarsely undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to N186C. Color, lower surface: Close to 197A and 197B strongly tinged with close to 187A; venation, slightly darker than 187A.
      • Peduncles.—Length: About 31.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Aspect: About 25 degrees from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 183A; moderately covered with fine dots, close to 146D.
      • Pedicels.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Aspect: About 40 degrees from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 183B; moderately covered with fine dots, close to 146D.
      • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 60. Filament length: About 1.8 cm. Filament color: Close to 186D; distally, close to 155A. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform; basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150C. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: Close to 4D to lighter than 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About five to seven. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style length: About 1.45 cm. Style color: Close to 187B. Ovary color: Close to N186C. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower: About 11 to 13. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Tubular, flattened; apices, obtuse. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, immature, inner surface: Close to 145A; towards the apex, close to 150C. Color, immature, outer surface: Close to 145A; towards the apex, close to 150C; at the base, close to 151A. Color, mature, inner surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex, close to 151A; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to N144A and distally, close to 166B. Color, mature, outer surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex, close to 151A; at the base, close to 152C; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to N144A and distally, close to 166B and at the base, close to 152B to 152C.
      • 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 ‘HM 1224’ as herein illustrated and described.

Referenced Cited
Other references
  • Zakrti 2023 Hellebore (Helleborus x iburgensis) ‘HGC Ice N' Roses Megan Marble’ retrieved on Mar. 12, 2024 at https://zielonozakreceni.pl/forum/ciemierniki/11907-ciemiernik-iburgski-helleborus-x-iburgensis-hgc-ice-n-roses-megan-marble, 11 pp. (Year: 2023).
Patent History
Patent number: PP36378
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 14, 2023
Date of Patent: Jan 7, 2025
Inventor: Josef Heuger (Glandorf)
Primary Examiner: June Hwu
Application Number: 18/389,453
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Helleborus (PLT/439)
International Classification: A01H 5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/72 (20180101);