Azalea plant named ‘Promise’

Details Azalea plant named ‘Promise’ Azalea plant named ‘Promise’

2000-02-07

2001-06-12

Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)

Plants

Rose

Climber

Plant Patent

active

PP011920

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 ‘Promise’.
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 a proprietary selection identified as code number YB-0334 as the female, or seed, parent with a propriety selection identified as code number YB-0815 as the male, or pollen, parent.
Compared to plants of the female parent, plants of the new Azalea are more vigorous; have a more uniform plant habit; have better foliage retention and better tolerance to the cooling treatment. Compared to plants of the male parent, plants of the new Azalea are more outwardly spreading and have larger leaves and flowers.
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 March, 1994. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable flower color, profuse and uniform flowering, improved foliage retention, uniform plant habit, 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 ‘Promise’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Promise’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Shiny dark green leaves that do not abscise during the cooling and forcing periods.
2. Dense, uniform and outwardly spreading plant habit.
3. Very freely branching.
4. Rapid flowering after forcing.
5. Numerous large coral-colored flowers with smooth petal margins.
6. Double 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.
Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,131. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Azalea differ from plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’ in the following characteristics:
1. After cooling, plants of the new Azalea flower about five to six days earlier than plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’.
2. Flower form of plants of the new Azalea is double whereas flower form of plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’ is semi-double hose-in-hose.
3. Petal margin of plants of the new Azalea is smooth whereas petal margin of plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’ is ruffled.
4. Plant habit of plants of the new Azalea is more uniform and more outwardly spreading than the plant habit of plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’ which tends to be upright and somewhat tiered.
5. Leaves of plants of the new Azalea are not susceptible to amide injury (foliar burn) whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’ are susceptible to amide injury.
6. Flowering plants of the new Azalea last about five days longer than flowering plants of the cultivar ‘Champagne’ in postproduction longevity trials.
Plants of the new Azalea can also be compared to plants of the cultivar ‘Cherish’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,910. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Azalea differ from plants of the cultivar ‘Cherish’ in the following characteristics:
1. After cooling, plants of the new Azalea flower about 10 to 12 days earlier than plants of the cultivar ‘Cherish’.
2. Plants of the new Azalea have a less uniform, but more outwardly spreading plant habit than plants of the cultivar ‘Cherish’.
3. Flower form of plants of the new Azalea is double whereas flower form of plants of the cultivar ‘Cherish’ is semi-double hose-in-hose.
4. Flower color of plants of the new Azalea is more uniform and slightly lighter than flower color of plants of the cultivar ‘Cherish’.


REFERENCES:
David G. Leach, Rhododendrons of the World and How to Grow Them, pp. 427 and 441, 1961.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Azalea plant named ‘Promise’ does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Azalea plant named ‘Promise’, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Azalea plant named ‘Promise’ will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2505355