Plants – Herbaceous ornamnental flowering plant – Phlox
Plant Patent
2000-09-22
2002-09-03
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Herbaceous ornamnental flowering plant
Phlox
Plant Patent
active
PP012908
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Phlox paniculata
and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name ‘Becky Towe’.
Phlox paniculata
is a hardy perennial grown for landscape use.
The new Phlox, ‘Becky Towe’, was discovered in April of 1990 by the inventor in her garden in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. ‘Becky Towe’ was discovered as a golden variegated sport arising from the base of
Phlox paniculata
‘Windsor’ (unpatented).
The new variety of Phlox can be characterized by its gold-margined variegated foliage that is bright gold with bronzed growing tips in the spring with the gold margins maturing to a cream color at flowering time. ‘Becky Towe’ has flowers that are a rich salmony carmine rose color with a deep magenta colored eye, is a vigorous grower, and is comparatively resistant to mildew. The flower color is identical to the parent variety, however, ‘Windsor’ has green foliage with no variegation. ‘Becky Towe’ is unique in comparison to other variegated
Phlox paniculata
cultivars. The cultivars ‘Norah Leigh’, ‘Darwin's Joyce’, and ‘Pink Posie’ (all unpatented) all have foliage with cream to white colored margins and pale lilac to pale pink colored blooms. The cultivar ‘Harlequin’ (unpatented) has foliage with ivory-white margins and reddish purple flowers and the cultivars ‘Silvermine’ and ‘Goldmine’ (both unpatented) have golden variegation, however, the flowers are white and red-purple, respectively.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by taking cuttings in Ludlow, Shropshire, England by the inventor in April 1991. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations both by vegetative cuttings and by tissue culture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish this cultivar from other commercial varieties. ‘Becky Towe’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions:
1. The foliage of ‘Becky Towe’ is variegated with gold colored margins on active growth that matures to a cream color when the plant is flowering. Scorching of the leaf margins has not been observed.
2. The tips on the new growing shoots of ‘Becky Towe’ in the spring are bronzed tinged.
3. The flowers of ‘Becky Towe’ are a rich salmony carmine rose color with a deep magenta colored eye. The flowers are held on sturdy, erect stems.
4. ‘Becky Towe’ appears to be mildew resistant; possibly because it has a wax-like cuticle layer.
5. ‘Becky Towe’ is hardy in USDA Zones
4-8.
6. ‘Becky Towe’ is a vigorous grower; many cultivars of variegated
Phlox paniculata
are weaker growers.
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