Plants – Shrub or vine – Hibiscus
Plant Patent
2003-07-25
2004-07-27
Grunberg, Anne Marie (Department: 1661)
Plants
Shrub or vine
Hibiscus
Plant Patent
active
PP015054
ABSTRACT:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:
Hibiscus moscheutos.
Variety denomination: ‘Balhiblu’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as
Hibiscus moscheutos
, hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Balhiblu’.
The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Elburn, Ill. The objective of the breeding program was to create new well-branched Hibiscus cultivars with desirable flower color, and uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production.
The new Hibiscus originated from a cross made by the inventor in Elburn, Ill. in 2000, of the
Hibiscus moscheutos
proprietary breeding line 102-5-1 (not patented), as the female, or seed, parent with the
Hibiscus moscheutos
proprietary breeding line 116-23-3 (not patented), as the male, or pollen, parent. The female parent,
Hibiscus moscheutos
proprietary breeding line 102-5-1, has a very good habit is floriferous with flowers having a white “eye”. The male parent,
Hibiscus moscheutos
proprietary breeding line 116-23-3 has medium height is fairly floriferous with a good habit and very deep pink flowers.
Compared to plants of the female parent,
Hibiscus moscheutos
proprietary breeding line 102-5-1, the flowers of the cultivar ‘Balhiblu’ have a dark red “eye”, whereas the flowers of the female parent have a white “eye”. The cultivar ‘Balhiblu’ is better branched, and more free flowering than the female parent.
Compared to plants of male parent,
Hibiscus moscheutos
proprietary breeding line 116-23-3, flowers of the cultivar ‘Balhiblu’ have a light pink edge fading towards the center to white with a dark red “eye” while the male parent has deep pink flowers. The cultivar ‘Balhiblu’ is more vigorous and more free flowering, with larger flowers than the male parent.
The cultivar ‘Balhiblu’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill., on Aug. 7, 2001. The cultivar ‘Balhiblu’ is perennial to Zone 5.
Both parents have a degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of the cross 102-5-1 times 116-23-3 are phenotypically uniform and essentially identical to ‘Balhiblu’. Removal of the terminal apex will improve branching in asexually reproduced plants. Accordingly, plants that are phenotypically identical to ‘Balhiblu’ can be produced by sexual reproduction as well as asexual reproduction.
Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Santa Paula, Calif. has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Balhiblu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Balhiblu’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Compact, upright, and symmetrical plant habit that is suitable for container production;
2. Early to flower;
3. Bushy, well branched;
4. Large flowered and floriferous; and
5. Flowers have a light pink edge fading towards the center to white with a dark red “eye”.
Plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus Disco Belle Series Pink (not patented), commercially available from Sakata Seed, Inc., Morgan Hill, Calif. 95037. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Santa Paula, Calif., plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ differ from plants of Disco Belle Series Pink in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ are 20% more compact;
2. Plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ are earlier to flower by approximately one week;
3. Plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ have more branches;
4. Plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ are branched more uniformly; and
5. Plants of the new Hibiscus ‘Balhiblu’ are more floriferous.
Ball Horticultural, Inc.
Grunberg Anne Marie
McCormick-Ewoldt Susan B.
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