U.S. patent number PP34,512 [Application Number 17/803,302] was granted by the patent office on 2022-08-16 for monarda plant named `electric neon purple`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Walters Gardens, Inc. The grantee listed for this patent is Hans A Hansen. Invention is credited to Hans A Hansen.
United States Patent |
PP34,512 |
Hansen |
August 16, 2022 |
Monarda plant named `Electric Neon Purple`
Abstract
The new and distinct cultivar of ornamental cultivar of hybrid
ornamental Bee Balm plant named Monarda `Electric Neon Purple` with
lanceolate, dark-green, moderately-glossy, powdery mildew-tolerant
foliage and flower heads of bright fuchsia-purple flowers for about
five weeks. The plant habit is compact and winter-hardy, useful in
the landscape as a specimen, en masse, or as a containerized
plant.
Inventors: |
Hansen; Hans A (Zeeland,
MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hansen; Hans A |
Zeeland |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Walters Gardens, Inc (Zeeland,
MI)
|
Appl.
No.: |
17/803,302 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2022 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/455 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/14 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/263.1,455 |
Primary Examiner: Redden; Karen M
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of hybrid ornamental Bee Balm,
Monarda plant named `Electric Neon Purple`, as herein described and
illustrated.
Description
Botanical designation and cultivar denomination:
Botanical classification: Monarda hybrid.
Variety denomination: `Electric Neon Purple`.
STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES UNDER 37 CFR 1.77(B)(6)
The first public disclosure of the claimed plant, in the form of a
sale, was made by Walters Gardens, Inc. on May 3, 2021 in a sale to
Chrissy's Greenhouse, North Coast Perennials and Sunbeam Gardens.
Prior to that, on Feb. 1, 2021 the claimed plant was displayed with
a non-enabling photograph and brief description in a website
operated by Walters Gardens, Inc., and on May 21, 2021 as a
non-enabling photograph and brief description in the "Walters
Gardens 2021-2022 Catalog" by Walters Gardens, Inc., who obtained
the plant and all information relating thereto, from the inventor.
No plants of Monarda `Electric Neon Purple` have been sold, in this
country or anywhere in the world, nor has any disclosure of the new
plant been made more than one year prior the filing date of this
application, and such sale or disclosure within one year was either
derived directly or indirectly from the inventor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar of
Bee Balm, botanically known as Monarda `Electric Neon Purple`, and
hereinafter also referred to solely by the cultivar `Electric Neon
Purple` or the "new plant." Monarda `Electric Neon Purple` was the
result of a controlled pollination in the summer on Jun. 19, 2015,
in the research area at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland,
Mich., USA. The female parent is `Bubblegum Blast` U.S. Plant Pat.
No. 27,497 and the specific male parent is a proprietary, unnamed,
unreleased hybrid known only as "red pringlei sdlg" (not patented).
The new plant was separated out for further evaluation in the
summer of 2017 in the full sun trial gardens of the same nursery
and assigned the breeder code 15-5-1. The new plant is the result
of a planned breeding program of the inventor to produce new colors
of flowers with superior mildew resistance, and improved compact
habit. The new plant has been asexually propagated since 2017 by
division and by basal stem cuttings at the same nursery in the
greenhouses in Zeeland, Mich., and the subsequent generations of
asexually propagated plants found to be stable and identical to the
original selection.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PLANT
Monarda `Electric Neon Purple` is unique from its parents and all
other Bee Balm plants known to the inventor. The nearest comparison
cultivars known to the inventor are: `Pardon My Lavender` U.S.
Plant Pat. No. 28,770, `Electric Neon Pink` U.S. Plant Pat. No.
30,347, `Pardon My Lavender II` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,131, and
`Lilac Lollipop` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,571.
`Pardon My Lavender` has less vigor and powdery mildew resistance
and lavender-pink flowers and the habit is slightly smaller and
compact. `Electric Neon Pink` has similar size and habit, but the
flowers are intense neon-pink color with darker purple spots on the
lower labium. `Pardon My Lavender II` has a smaller habit and the
flowers are lavender-purple. `Lilac Lollipop` is comparable in
habit, but the flowers are lavender-lilac colored.
The female parent differs with a hot pink flower color. The male
parent has a taller habit and the flowers are more reddish and the
leaves are smaller and narrower with red floral bracts and tends to
develop a reddish fall color, and is less winter hardy and
weaker-stemmed and more taxed in habit.
Monarda `Electric Neon Purple` is distinct from all Bee Balm plants
known to the inventor. The following are traits of the new plant
that in combination distinguish it from all other Bee Balm known to
the inventor: 1. Deep-green, moderately-glossy, powdery
mildew-tolerant foliage; 2. Medium, dense, clumping, upright mound
that is winter-hardy habit; 3. Flowers are bright fuchsia-purple
and remain effective for about a five-week-long period beginning
late spring; 4. Bracts subtending inflorescences with deep reddish
and wine coloration; 5. Flowering in dense verticils.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the unique traits of
Monarda `Electric Neon Purple` and the overall appearance of the
plant at three-years-old in the full sun display garden of a
nursery in Zeeland, Mich. 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.
FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the flower of the new plant.
FIG. 2 shows the habit of the new plant in full flower.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The following descriptions and color references are based on the
2015 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except
where common dictionary terms are used. Monarda `Electric Neon
Purple` 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
maturity levels, but without any change in the genotype. The
following observations and size descriptions are based on
two-year-old plants grown in a trial garden and a partially shaded
greenhouse at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental
fertilizer and water as needed. Botanical classification: Monarda
hybrid; Parentage: The female (seed) parent is `Bubblegum Blast`,
an unreleased proprietary hybrid; the male (pollen) parent is known
only as "red pringlei sdlg"; Plant habit: Hardy herbaceous
perennial, dense, upright mound, producing multiple stems spreading
by short rhizomes near the base of the stems; foliage up to 40.0 cm
tall, flowering to 60 cm tall and 76 cm wide; flowering begins
early summer in Michigan and continuing for about 5 weeks;
Propagation: Stem cuttings; Time to produce finished crop in
3.8-liter pots: About 7 to 9 weeks; moderate rate of growth; Root:
Fine, fibrous and freely branching; color creamy white to tan
depending on soil type; Leaves: Simple; lanceolate; opposite;
margin serrated and micro-ciliolate; puberulent above and below;
moderately lustrous adaxial, abaxial matte in maturity to slightly
lustrous when expanding; narrowly acute apex; cordate to rounded
base; to about 7.5 cm long and 3.8 cm wide, average about 6.0 cm
long and 2.6 cm wide near base of leaf; Leaf color: Young expanding
leaves adaxial between RHS 143A and RHS 146B with light overtone of
nearest RHS 187A, abaxial nearest RHS 146B without obvious
anthocyanin pigmentation; older leaves adaxial nearest RHS 139A
with portions high in anthocyanins nearest RHS 187A, abaxial
nearest RHS 137B with portions high in anthocyanins nearest RHS
187B; Foliage fragrance: pleasant lemony-herbal; Veins: Pinnate;
glabrous and slightly sunken adaxial, micro-pubescent and costate
abaxial; Vein color: Adaxial midrib nearest RHS 146C and lateral
pinnate veins and secondary veins between RHS 145A and RHS 146D;
abaxial midrib nearest RHS 146D with frequent moderate to weak
anthocyanin blush of nearest RHS 187B and with lateral pinnate
veins and secondary veins nearest RHS 146B without obvious
anthocyanin blush; Petiole: Micro-puberulent and slightly concaved
adaxial; puberulent and convex abaxial; ciliolate margin; to about
6.0 mm long and 2.0 mm across at base; Petiole color: Adaxial
nearest RHS N186C, abaxial nearest RHS 146D with a slight to strong
blush of nearest RHS N186C in high light exposure; Stems:
Quadrangular; puberulent; about 5.0 mm across at base; about 50 per
plant; naturally branched at upper and lower nodes; average 4.2 cm
between nodes greater distally; 9 to 12 nodes per stern; average
length about 52 cm; Stem color: Nearest RHS 146C with heavy
anthocyanin expression in high light nearest RHS 187A; nodes same
color as surrounding stem; Flowers: Single; bilabiate flowers
arranged in mostly terminal verticils forming globular head about
84.0 mm across and 39.0 mm tall, opening from the center and
progressing outwardly and down; attitude outwardly to upwardly;
individual flowers to about 38.0 mm long to exserted stigma, 20.0
mm tall and about 5.5 mm across; individual flowers persisting
about 5 days in Michigan; numerous, about 200 flowers per terminal
head, fewer per axillary head; 105 inflorescences with open flowers
at one time; Flower fragrance: Sweetly lemony; Buds one to two days
prior to opening: Narrowly oblanceolate, arcuate downward; about
20.0 mm long and 2.0 mm across and 6.0 mm tall; Bud color: Basal
3.0 mm between RHS157D and RHS NN155B, ventral and dorsal middle
portion nearest RHS N80A, distal ventral and dorsal region nearest
RHS 83A; Petals: Bilabiate; arcuate downward; basal 20.0 mm fused
into tube; split in two in the distal 16.0 mm; abaxial glandular to
puberulent, adaxial glabrous in free portion and micro-puberulent
in corolla tube; self-cleaning; Upper labium: Rolled or folded in
free portion, about 13.0 mm long from fusion to emarginate apex
with notch about 0.5 mm deep; 2.0 mm tall, 2.0 mm across at base,
about 4.0 mm across in middle when flattened; Lower labium: About
16.0 mm long from fusion to apex, apex comprising three lobes
including two side lobes about 1.0 mm long and 2.0 mm across with
rounded apex, center lobe about 5.0 mm long with emarginate apex in
the distal 1.0 mm; Petal color: Upper labium adaxial surface
between RHS N80B and RHS 72B, upper labium abaxial surface between
RHS N80A and RHS 72A; lower labium adaxial between RHS N80B and RHS
72B with two lighter longitudinal lines about 1.0 mm wide nearest
RHS N75B running on each side of the longitudinal center from
fusion point to proximal center lobe, distal apex of center lobe
nearest RHS N75C, abaxial surface between RHS N80A and RHS 72A;
corolla tube adaxial basal 5.0 mm nearest RHS NN155D and distally
between RHS N77D and RHS 77C with veins nearest RHS 76C, abaxial
proximal 5.0 mm nearest RHS NN155C and distally between RHS 70A and
RHS 72A; Androecium: Two; adnate inner corolla tube in basal
portion; Filaments.--Two; curved downward; adnate the inner corolla
tube in the basal 18.0 mm and free in the distal 16.0 mm; about 0.5
mm diameter; color nearest RHS 76C in basal adnate portion and
nearest RHS 70B in free portion. Anther.--Oblong elliptic;
dorsifixed; longitudinal; two, fused laterally; 2.0 mm long by 1.0
mm wide; dorsal color nearest RHS N79B and ventral suture color
nearest RHS N186B. Pollen.--Abundant, elliptic to globose, less
than 0.1 mm; color nearest RHS 11B. Gynoecium: One; superior; about
34.0 mm long; Pistil: One per flower; protruding about 5.0 mm
beyond upper labium when mature; Style: Cylindrical; glabrous;
about 32.0 mm long and about 0.5 mm diameter; arcuate along upper
labium; color between RHS 79D and RHS 72B in distal 10.0 mm,
transitioning to nearest RHS NN155D in basal 5.0 mm portion;
Stigma: Unevenly bifid in the distal 1.0 mm w79 64D; Ovary:
Conical; about 1.0 mm tall by 0.75 mm diameter; color nearest RHS
145D; Calyx: Tubular to campanulate; consisting of five fused
sepals; about 9.0 mm long and 3.0 mm diameter at apex; Sepals:
Five; acute apex; basal 7.5 mm fused forming calyx tube, free in
distal 1.5 mm; margin micro-serrulate; about 9.0 mm long and 1.0 mm
across at fusion; glabrous abaxial, glabrous adaxial; persistent;
Sepal color: Adaxial and abaxial basal 1.0 mm nearest RHS 161D,
middle adaxial portion nearest RHS 194A with veins nearest RHS
N86B, free portion adaxial and abaxial nearest RHS N186B, abaxial
middle potion nearest RHS N186C with veins nearest RHS N186B;
Foliar bracts: Typically, one set of five to seven large bracts on
the outside per inflorescence, and one set of six smaller bracts in
the middle, and one set of about 24 to 30 smaller narrow bracts on
the inside directly below each inflorescence; outer bracts
lanceolate with acute apex and attenuate sessile base,
micro-ciliolate margin, glabrous adaxial, puberulent abaxial, flat
to coarsely wavy, matte adaxial and abaxial, lower bract to 45 mm
long and 16 mm wide in middle; middle six bracts linear with
narrowly acute apex and truncate base, ciliolate margin, glabrous
adaxial and micro-puberulent abaxial, to about 20 mm long and 5 mm
across near middle; innermost bracts linear, narrowly acute apex
and truncate base, ciliolate margin, adaxial and abaxial glabrous,
to about 15 mm long and 2.5 mm across at base; Foliar bract color:
Lower bracts adaxial between RHS 187A and RHS N186B distally
transitioning to nearest RHS 139A in middle and RHS 145B at base,
midrib nearest RHS 186A, color abaxial nearest RHS 138B, midrib
nearest RHS 145C with variable blush of nearest RHS 187B; middle
six bracts adaxial distal nearest RHS 187A, middle portion nearest
RHS 137B with midrib nearest RHS 186A and base nearest RHS 145D,
abaxial color nearest 146C in middle with apex strongly blushed
with RHS 187A and base nearest RHS 145D; innermost bracts variable,
distally adaxial and abaxial nearest RHS 187B and proximally
adaxial and abaxial transitioning to nearest RHS 145D at base;
Peduncle: Pubescent, stiff, strong, erect, quadrangular; to about
3.0 mm across and average 52 mm long above last node; about 50 per
plant; naturally branched at nodes; Peduncle color: Variable
between RHS 146C in more shaded location and RHS 187A with high
light exposure; Pedicel: About 1.0 mm long and 0.8 mm diameter;
color nearest RHS 145B; Fruit: Single, glabrous, lustrous,
ellipsoidal nutlet; about 1.2 mm long and 0.7 mm wide; color
nearest RHS 200C; Hardiness: The new plant grows best with plenty
of moisture and adequate drainage; hardy to at least from USDA zone
4 through 8. Disease and pest resistance: Demonstrated greater than
average powdery mildew Neoerysiphe galeopsidis (formerly Erysiphe
chicoracearum) tolerance in side-by-side comparison with other
Monarda.
* * * * *