plant named ‘BullRudihir 122’

A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant having a compact growth habit and large, orange-peach colored double flowers.

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Description

Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta L.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullRudihir 122’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Rudbeckia plant known by the varietal name ‘BullRudihir 122’. The new variety was discovered in August of 2022 in Gönnebek, Germany as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing Rudbeckia plants with improved growth, more uniformity, a compact growth habit, better branching, attractive foliage, large blooms, and unique flower colors. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR013-2021” (female parent) and an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR019-2021” (male parent) from the breeder's own collection. The new variety was first asexually reproduced via in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek, Germany in September of 2022. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties in botanical classification but exhibits bicolor (orange-peach) double flowers, earlier blooming, increased branching, and more attractive foliage with smaller leaves than the parental varieties. Further, its compact growth habit distinguishes ‘BullRudihir 122’ from its parent varieties. The new variety differs from its female parent in that the female parent exhibits orange, semi-double flowering with 35% fewer branches and flowers, light green foliage, and is about 5-8 cm taller than the new variety. The new variety differs from its male parent in that the male parent exhibits light orange, semi-double flowering that occurs about 10 days later, exhibits larger leaves, and is about 10 cm taller.

When ‘BullRudihir 122’ is compared to Rudbeckia hirta L. variety named ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’ (unpatented), ‘BullRudihir 122’ is similar to ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’ in botanical classification, but ‘BullRudihir 122’ exhibits a different flower color (orange-peach bicolor versus orange-brown flowers for ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’), flowers, improved plant quality, more uniform growth with increased self-branching, and more attractive foliage (meaning small, dark green leaves with no necroses or yellowing from genetics, whereas ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’ exhibits light green leaves with necroses), that distinguish it from ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’. The new variety is also about 10-15 cm shorter than ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’. Further, the following characteristics distinguish ‘BullRudihir 122’ when generally compared to other Rudbeckia varieties known to the breeder:

    • Large, bicolored medium double orange-peach flowers with a brown center;
    • Good self-branching;
    • An upright, compact, and uniform growth habit;
    • Healthy, green foliage;
    • Long bloom time;
    • Uniformity in the crop; and
    • Unique flower color combination.

The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive asexual propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 19 weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via in vitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebek, Germany. Plants of the new variety were grown outdoors in 21 cm (4 liter) pots under normal field production conditions, and the color readings and measurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 19-week-old plants in Gönnebek, Germany. Color references are primarily to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, Sixth Edition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

PLANT

  • Time to initiate roots: About 7-10 days at approximately 18° C.
  • Time to develop roots: About 35-38 days at approximately 16-18° C.
  • Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting: About 11-12 weeks in a 21 cm container.
  • Rooting habit: Exhibits numerous roots of medium thickness that are freely branching and healthy in appearance.
  • Plant height: 35.0-50.0 cm.
  • Plant width: 35.0-40.0 cm.
  • Vigor: Medium, approximately 9-10 weeks in a 21 cm pot to grow from a young plant to a finished plant with flower opening.
  • Disease/pest resistance: Nothing unusual noted to date.
  • Temperature tolerance: From −3 to +40° C.
  • Drought tolerance: Relative Tolerance.
  • Branching habit: Exhibits one dominant strong branch with several lateral side branches. The lateral branches are upright, forming an attractive habit.
  • Branches (flowering stems):
      • Number per plant.—20-35.
      • Length.—10.0-35.0 cm.
      • Diameter.—5.0-10.0 mm.
      • Internode length.—3.0-10.0 cm.
      • Angle.—Upright and outward.
      • Strength.—Strong.
      • Texture.—Pubescent.
      • Color.—Green (Close to 144A to 144B).
  • Foliage:
      • Arrangement.—Single.
      • Leaf.—Length: 4.0-18.0 cm. Width: 1.5-7.0 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute. Margin: Dentate and undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, haired. Lower surface: Rough, haired. Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: Medium green (close to 137B). Lower surface: Medium green (close to 137C). Mature leaves: Upper surface: Medium green (close to 137B to 137C). Lower surface: Medium green (close to 137D). Petiole: None present. Veins: Venation type: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Light green (close to 145C). Lower surface: Light green (close to 145A).

INFLORESCENCE

  • Bud:
      • Diameter.—1.5-3.8 cm.
      • Length.—1.8-3.8 cm.
      • Color.—Green (close to 145B) when closed with a brown middle (close to 187A) when open.
  • Appearance: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped disc florets.
  • Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs from June-October in Gönnebek, Germany, beginning approximately 10-12 weeks after planting.
  • Average number of inflorescences per plant: 18-32.
  • Average number of inflorescences per branch: 1-4.
  • Disc and ray floret arrangement: Double composite flower with many whorls.
  • Fragrance: Sweet.
  • Inflorescence:
      • Diameter.—6.0-10.0 cm.
      • Height (depth).—2.0-4.0 cm.
      • Diameter of disc.—1.0-2.0 cm.
      • Receptacle height.—1.0-1.5 cm.
      • Receptacle diameter.—4.0-6.0 cm.
  • Ray florets:
      • Number per inflorescence.—150-200.
      • Arrangement.—Up to 10 whorls.
      • Length.—2.0-5.0 cm.
      • Width.—1.0-1.7 cm.
      • Shape.—Elliptical.
      • Apex.—Emarginate.
      • Base.—Acute.
      • Margin.—Entire.
      • Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface: Rough.
      • Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Orange-peach (close to 26A). Lower surface: Close to 4AB. At maturity: Upper surface: Peach (close to 26C). Lower surface: Close to 4B. Ground color description: Peach (close to 26B).
      • Venation.—Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Peach (close to 26C). Lower surface: Peach (close to 26C).
  • Disc florets:
      • Number per inflorescence.—250-300.
      • Arrangement.—In the center of receptacle.
      • Length.—5.0-8.0 mm.
      • Width.—About 1.0 mm.
      • Shape.—Tubular.
      • Apex.—Five-pointed.
      • Color.—Immature: Brown (close to 200A). At maturity: Brown (close to 200A).
  • Phyllaries:
      • Number per inflorescence.—23-30.
      • Arrangement.—In three whorls.
      • Length.—1.0-2.5 cm.
      • Width.—3.0-8.0 mm.
      • Shape.—Lanceolate.
      • Apex.—Elongated oval.
      • Base.—Fused.
      • Margin.—Undulate.
      • Texture.—Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.
      • Color.—Immature: Upper surface: Green (close to 138A). Lower surface: Green (close to 138B). At maturity: Upper surface: Green (close to 138A). Lower surface: Green (close to 138B).
  • Reproductive organs:
  • Androecium:
      • Presence.—On disc florets.
      • Number (per floret).—Numerous.
      • Filament length.—1.0-2.0 mm.
      • Filament color.—Brown (close to 200A).
      • Anther.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1.0 mm. Color: Brown (close to 200A).
      • Pollen.—Color: Yellow (close to 17A). Amount: Plentiful-too much to quantify.
  • Gynoecium:
      • Presence.—In disc and ray florets.
      • Pistil length.—About 2.0 mm.
      • Stigma.—Shape: Two-parted. Color: Brown (close to 200A).
      • Style.—Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Brown (close to 200A).
      • Seeds.—
      • Overall size.—Approximately 2.0 mm.
      • Color.—Black (close to 202A).

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant named ‘BullRudihir 122’, as is herein illustrated and described.

Patent History
Patent number: PP37748
Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 11, 2025
Date of Patent: Oct 6, 2026
Patent Publication Number: 20260107859
Inventor: Hartwig Bull (Gönnebek)
Primary Examiner: Keith O. Robinson
Application Number: 19/235,294
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Rudbeckia (PLT/474)
International Classification: A01H 6/14 (20180101); A01H 5/02 (20180101);