U.S. patent number PP24,312 [Application Number 13/385,335] was granted by the patent office on 2014-03-11 for salvia plant named `sweet 16`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Walter Gardens, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Kevin A. Hurd. Invention is credited to Kevin A. Hurd.
United States Patent |
PP24,312 |
Hurd |
March 11, 2014 |
Salvia plant named `Sweet 16`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named `Sweet 16`
characterized by its large deep fuchsia-pink flowers densely
arranged in whorls, with compact habit and branched scapes and
strong vigorous growth rate.
Inventors: |
Hurd; Kevin A. (Chicago,
IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hurd; Kevin A. |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Walter Gardens, Inc. (Zeeland,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
50192893 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/385,335 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/475 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/475 |
Primary Examiner: Bell; Kent L
Claims
It is claimed:
1. A new and distinct Salvia plant named `Sweet 16` as herein
described and illustrated useful for landscaping as a specimen
plant, en masse or as a cut flower.
Description
Botanical denomination: Salvia pratensis.
Cultivar designation: `Sweet 16`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
ornamental Sage plant hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name
Salvia `Sweet 16` or as the new plant. The new plant is the result
of an open pollination in the summer of 2006 from Salvia `Eveline`
U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,905 as the female (seed) parent. The male
(pollen) parent is unknown. The new Salvia was selected from a
cultivated state at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA during
evaluations in the summer of 2008 by the inventor, Kevin A. Hurd,
as the one unique plant best fitting the goals of darker flowers
and more compact habit. The plant was then further evaluated with
asexual propagation by tip cuttings. The resulting plants of Salvia
`Sweet 16` from asexual propagation taken at the same nursery in
Zeeland, Mich. have been found to be true to type and stable in
successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Plants of the new Salvia have not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with
variations in environment such as temperature, nutrition and light
intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
Salvia `Pink Delight` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,965 and Salvia
`Eveline` are comparible Salvia pratensis hardy sages. The new
plant can most closely be compared to the seed parent Salvia
`Eveline` which has a lighter flower color, is about 10 cm taller
in flower and begins flowering about one week after `Sweet 16`.
Compared with `Pink Delight` the new plant has flowers that are
much deeper in color. Salvia `Endless Love` U.S. Plant Pat. No.
21,707 has a Salvia verticillata background and flowers on whorled
scapes that are more purple less pink and smaller in size. The new
plant can also be compared to Salvia `Sensation Rose` U.S. Plant
Pat. No. 18,230 which is from Salvia nemerosa and is shorter in
habit and has a smaller flower that is more purple and less pink
than `Sweet 16`. Salvia `Sweet 16` has larger flowers that are more
pink than other Salvia nemerosa type sages consisting of
`Flosaldblue` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,297, `Florsalwhite` U.S. Plant
Pat. No. 21,243, `Sal Card 07` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,184,
`Sensation Rose` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,230 ,`Pink Friesland` U.S.
Plant Pat. No. 18,152, `Rhapsody in Blue` U.S. Plant Pat. No.
15,148 and `Haeumanarc` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,322 (more often
recognized in the trade as `Marcus`). Salvia nemerosa plants have
flowers closely congested on scapes and not on verticils. Salvia
`Madeline` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,456 (another hardy perennial
sage) has a background with Salvia hians and a two-tone blue and
white flower also on verticils.
These traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be
the unique characteristics of Saliva `Sweet 16.` The following
characteristics in combination distinguish Saliva `Sweet 16` as a
new and distinct cultivar: 1. Large deep fuchsia-pink flowers
densely arranged in whorls. 2. Compact habit and branched scapes.
3. Strong and vigorous growth habit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the unique traits and
the overall appearance of Salvia `Sweet 16`. The colors are as
accurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Variation
in ambient light spectrum, source and direction may cause the
appearance of minor variation in color. The plant used in the
photographs was a two-year old plant grown in a covered greenhouse
in Zeeland, Mich. with 50% artificial shade and supplemental water
and fertilizer when needed. No growth regulators have been
used.
FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the flower scape with the buds and
unique flower petal color.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The following descriptions and color references except where common
dictionary terms are used are based on the 2001 edition of The
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. Salvia `Sweet 16` has not
been observed under all possible environments. The phenotype may
vary slightly with different growing environments such as
temperature, light, fertility, soil pH, moisture and plant maturity
levels, but without any change in the genotype. The following
observations and size descriptions are based on two-year old plants
growing in an outdoor full-sun trial garden at a nursery in
Zeeland, Mich. Plants were given supplemental water and fertilizer
but no plant growth regulators were used. Botanical classification:
Salvia pratensis. Parentage: Salvia `Eveline` (female or seed
parent) times unknown male or pollen parent. Plant habit: Hardy
herbaceous perennial; multi-stemmed, with foliage mostly basal, and
flowers in several verticils on branched upright racemes displayed
above foliage; about 60 cm tall in flower with flower scapes about
50 cm wide at the fullest point; foliage about 30 cm tall and 45 cm
wide. Propagation: By herbaceous tip cuttings; time to produce
rooted stems about two weeks. Growth rate: Rapid, vigorous,
finishing in a 65 mm container in about 7 weeks from rooted
cutting, and from 65 mm container to flowering 3.8 liter container
in about 8 weeks. Root description: Fine, well-branched; color
dependant on age and soil type, from cream to dark tan in color.
Foliage: Opposite, simple, rugose, lanceolate with acute apex and
base cordate to auriculate with lobes sometimes overlapping; margin
crenate; pubescent both surfaces; size to about 20.0 cm long and
10.0 cm across, average about 14.0 cm long and 6.0 cm across; faint
sage fragrance. Foliage color: Adaxial surface between RHS 137A and
RHS 136A; abaxial surface nearest RHS 137C. Venation: Reticulate;
impressed on adaxial side and ridged on abaxial side; color adaxial
side between RHS 138D and RHS 139D in midrib and main veins and
secondary veins gradually darkening to nearest RHS 137A toward leaf
margin; abaxial color midrib between RHS 146D and RHS 145A and main
veins and secondary veins gradually darkening to nearest RHS 137C.
Petiole: Concave adaxial side, convex abaxial side, heavily
pubescent; average 8.5 cm long and 5.0 mm wide at base. Petiole
color: Both surfaces between RHS 138B and RHS 138C. Flower
description: Perfect, bilabiate, verticillate with flowering
generally beginning at lower verticils but not all flowers at each
verticil opening at the same time giving the effect of a scape
being in continuous flower for long periods; projected at about 90
degree angle to stem; self-cleaning, petals not persistent;
flowering beginning early summer for about five weeks and repeating
if scapes removed. Flower longevity: About five days on the plant
or as cut flower. Fragrance: None detected. Flower buds one to two
days prior to anthesis: About 1.8 cm long, 8.0 mm tall and 3.0 mm
wide; shape is rounded on top and slightly concave below;
pubescent. Bud color: Petals between RHS N78A and RHS N78B.
Flowers: About 2.4 cm long, 2.0 cm tall and 5.0 mm wide. Petals:
Bilabiate corolla; upper petal hooded, with notched apex and base
fused with labium, about 2.4 cm long, 1.0 cm tall and 5.0 mm
across; labium (lower petal) consisting of four lobes, two proximal
lobes about 3.0 mm long and 2.0 mm wide at base with acute apex,
two distal lobes about 4.0 mm long 4.0 mm wide with a 1.0 mm notch
between; petals both minutely pubescent outside, glabrous inside.
Petal color: Upper petal nearest RHS N78C inside and outside;
labium between RHS N78C and RHS N78B in both inner and outer
surfaces. Androecium: Two, contained within hood petal except when
triggered by pollinator. Stamen.--Fused about 6.0 mm from base of
petals; curved around inside of hooded petal with 1.0 mm trip
mechanism at base; color whiter than RHS 155D at base and lighter
than RHS 77D before stamen. Anther.--Oblong, about 3 mm long and 1
mm diameter, dorsifixed; nearest RHS N186C. Pollen.--RHS 17D.
Gynoecium: One, curved around inside of hooded petal. Style.--About
2.4 cm long and less than 1 mm diameter; color white, lighter than
RHS 155D darkening rapidly to RHS N79B before stigma.
Stigma.--Split in two in the terminal 2.0 mm; nearest RHS N79B;
Ovary; superior; color between RHS 145A and RHS 138B.
Fruit.--Nutlet, up to four at base inside calyx; rounded, about 1.0
mm diameter; color darker than RHS 200A. Calyx: Five sepals, three
upper and two lower, campanulate, apex acute; fused base; upper and
lower sets fused to within 1.0 mm of apex and cleft about 3.0 mm
deep between upper and lower sets. Calyx color: Abaxial between RHS
191A and RHS 138A with undertones of RHS 183D with nearest RHS 191A
especially in the upper portions of the scape; adaxial nearest RHS
138B with darker veins of RHS 137B. Bracts: Each verticil subtended
by two opposite bracts; apex acute, base attenuate, shape nearly
cordate; minutely pubescent below and glabrous above; bract size up
to 1.5 cm long and 1.0 cm wide, decreasing distally; color of both
surfaces nearest RHS 138B with center base and proximal half of
main vein nearest RHS 138D. Peduncles: About 18 per plant; strong;
mostly upright, up to 60 cm tall and 5.0 mm across, square in cross
section; finely pubescent; branches mostly upright at lower nodes
with branches about 15.0 cm long and 3.0 mm across. Peduncle color:
Nearest RHS 144A with tinting of nearest RHS 187B concentrated in
the distal portions with more light, and at the nodes. Pedicels:
About 2.0 mm long and 1.0 mm diameter; pubescent; horizontal to
about 20 degrees above horizontal. Pedicel color: Nearest RHS 138B.
Disease and pest resistance: Plants of Salvia `Sweet 16` perform
best with adequate moisture and good drainage; are hardy from USDA
zone 3 to 8; resistant to diseases and pests beyond that common to
Salvia has not been noted.
* * * * *