plant named ‘QD-123’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant named ‘QD-123’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and white-colored flowers with bright orange yellow-colored centers that are held beyond the foliar plane.

Description

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘QD-123’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATION

A European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee of the instant application, Graff Breeding A/S of Sabro, Denmark on Apr. 16, 2025, application number 2360493. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Plant Breeder's Rights application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘QD-123’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Mandevilla plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination in Sabro, Denmark in August 2020 of Mandevilla sanderi ‘QD18’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,539, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number M-2011-0009, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May 2021.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark, since September 2021 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla 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 ‘QD-123’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘QD-123’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

• • 1. Compact and upright plant habit.
  • 2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.
  • 3. Dark green-colored leaves.
  • 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • 5. White-colored flowers with bright orange yellow-colored centers that are held beyond the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘QD18’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower throat color as plants of the new Mandevilla have more intense orange yellow-colored flower throats than plants of ‘QD18’. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of ‘QD18’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Mandevilla have white-colored flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla are more upright than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘QD2’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,504. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘QD2’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than and not as vigorous as plants of ‘QD2’.
  • 2. Flower throats of plants of the new Mandevilla are bright orange yellow in color whereas flower throats of plants of ‘QD2’ are greyed orange in color.
  • 3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have longer peduncles than plants of ‘QD2’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla 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 actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘QD-123’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close up view of a typical open flower and developing flower bud of ‘QD-123’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a close up view of typical developing and fully developed leaves of ‘QD-123’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 klux to 50 klux. Plants were pinched two times and were 31 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘QD-123’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Mandevilla sanderi ‘QD18’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,539.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number M-2011-0009, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at soil and ambient temperatures about 21° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at soil and ambient temperatures about 21° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven weeks at soil and ambient temperatures about 21° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight weeks at soil and ambient temperatures about 21° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically close to 161C in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
    • Tubers.—Tuber formation has been observed on plants older than one year.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Compact and upright plant habit; overall plant shape is obovate; relatively moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.
    • Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 35 cm.
    • Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit, about two to four primary lateral branches each with typically two to four secondary lateral branches developing per plant. Length: About 10 cm to 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Aspect: Upright to somewhat outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to matte; becoming woody with development. Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 144A; when woody, becoming closer to 199A to 199B.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple.
    • Length.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.
    • Width.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.
    • Shape.—Elliptic.
    • Apex.—Acuminate.
    • Base.—Rounded to acute.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous; semi-glossy.
    • Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous; matte.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147C. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 136A.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged singly or in terminal or axillary racemes; flowers rounded star-shaped and face upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about two to four flower buds and about one to two open flowers per inflorescence; about 20 to 30 flowers develop during the flowering season.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from spring into the autumn in Denmark; plants begin flowering about nine to twelve weeks after the final pinch.
    • Flower longevity on the plant.—About 8 to 14 days; flowers persistent.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Inflorescence height (before flowers open).—About 7 cm to 10 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter (before flowers open).—About 12 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Rhomboidai. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 36C and 8A.
    • Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, petals fused and five-parted; petals imbricate. Diameter: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Depth (length): About 3 cm to 4 cm. Throat diameter: About 2 cm. Tube length: About 2 cm. Tube diameter: About 4 mm.
    • Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a single whorl; proximally, petals are fused into a funnelform tube. Petal length: About 3.5 cm. Petal width: About 4 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Unequal spatulate to fan-shaped. Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire; moderately undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Petal, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N155B; towards the base, close to N25A; color does not change with subsequent development. Petal, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N155B; towards the base, close to 13B; color does not change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to 23A; venation, close to 23A. Tube: Close to 13B; venation, close to 13B.
    • Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a single whorl. Sepal length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 4 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal base: Rounded. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Sepal color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C; at the apex, close to 60A.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 11D. Anther size: About 2 mm by 8 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther color: Close to 161B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 162C. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to 157A. Stigma diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded to deltoid. Stigma color: Close to 151B. Ovary color: Close to 143C.
    • Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has not been observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla plants.
• Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed to tolerate temperatures of about 10° C. to 44° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10B through 13.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘QD-123’ as herein illustrated and described.