Plants – Rose – Climber
Plant Patent
2000-02-07
2001-06-05
Campell, Bruce (Department: 1661)
Plants
Rose
Climber
Plant Patent
active
PP011913
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea, botanically known as
Rhododendron hybrida
, an evergreen greenhouse-forcing type Azalea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘First Place’.
The new Azalea is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Azalea varieties having uniform plant habit and uniform flowering, numerous flowers, dark green foliage, good foliage retention during the cooling and forcing periods, resistance to Cylindrocladium, and excellent postproduction longevity.
The new Azalea originated from a cross made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla., of the commercial cultivar ‘Prize’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,795, as the female, or seed, parent with the nonpatented commercial cultivar ‘Gloria’ as the male, or pollen, parent.
Compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar ‘Prize’, plants of the new Azalea are slightly more vigorous; more outwardly spreading; have glossier, broader and darker green leaves; are more freely flowering; have slightly redder (less blue) flower color, have better flower color retention, and are more resistant to Cylindrocladium in inoculation trials. Compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar ‘Gloria’, plants of the new Azalea differ in flower color; flower about five days earlier after cooling; are less susceptible to amide injury (foliar burn); have better foliage retention; and have longer post-production longevity.
The new Azalea was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., in May, 1993. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable flower color, profuse and uniform flowering, improved flower color retention, excellent postproduction longevity, and resistance to Cylindrocladium.
Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., has shown that the unique features of this new Azalea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new Azalea has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, light intensity, nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘First Place’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘First Place’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Very glossy dark green leaves that do not abscise during the cooling and forcing periods.
2. Dense and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit.
3. Very freely branching.
4. Rapid flowering after forcing.
5. Numerous large and showy reddish purple-colored flowers.
6. Hose-in-hose to semi-double hose-in-hose flower form.
7. Flowers that do not shatter.
8. Good flower color retention even under high light.
9. Excellent postproduction longevity with plants maintaining good flower substance for more than four weeks in an interior environment.
10. Very low incidence of infection with Cylindrocladium in inoculated trials.
Bell Kent L.
Campell Bruce
Whealy C. A.
Yoder Brother's Inc.
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