Plants – Shrub or vine
Plant Patent
2002-02-07
2003-12-16
Grunberg, Anne Marie (Department: 1661)
Plants
Shrub or vine
Plant Patent
active
PP014381
ABSTRACT:
Genus: Weigela.
Species:
florida.
Denomination: Dark Horse.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant botanically known as
Weigela florida
and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dark Horse’.
The new cultivar ‘Dark Horse’ is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Hampshire, England. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new plants with leaves that are darker than any existing Weigela. ‘Dark Horse’ is a hybrid that originated from an induced cross made by the inventor in 1991 using
Weigela florida
‘Victoria’ (not patented) as the female or seed parent and
Weigela florida
‘Foliis Pupureus’ (not patented) as the male or pollen parent. The new cultivar ‘Dark Horse’ was selected by the inventor in 1992 as a plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Hampshire, England. The selection was made based on the dark purple foliage and compact habit.
The closest comparison plant is the dark-leaved, low-growing
Weigela florida
‘Foliis Purpureus’ which exhibits a habit that becomes sprawling with age, and foliage color that fades toward the end of summer. Another comparison plant is Weigela ‘Victoria’, a tall dark-leaved shrub. ‘Dark Horse’ is distinguishable from
Wegelia florida
‘Foliis Purpureus’ by its compact habit and foliage that remains dark purple throughout the plants season. ‘Dark Horse’ is distinguishable from ‘Victoria’ by its compact habit. The original Weigela ‘Dark Horse’ plant, belonging to the inventor, has retained its compact habit over the last eight years. Of the purple leaved forms ‘Dark Horse’ is the most compact variety known to the inventor.
Asexual reproduction by cuttings of the new cultivar ‘Dark Horse’ was accomplished in 1992 in Hampshire, England by the inventor. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new Weigela plant have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Weigela cultivar ‘Dark Horse’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Dark Horse’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from all other existing varieties of Weigela known to the inventor. ‘Dark Horse’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.
1. Weigela ‘Dark Horse’ exhibits dark purple leaves.
2. Weigela ‘Dark Horse’ exhibits a distinctly compact growth habit.
3. Weigela ‘Dark Horse’ is hardy to USDA Zone 4.
4. Weigela ‘Dark Horse’ is 62 cm. in height and 93 cm. in width at maturity.
5. The foliage of Weigela ‘Dark Horse’ remains dark purple throughout the plants season.
6. Weigelia ‘Dark Horse’ exhibits a floriferous display of pink flowers that contrast with the dark foliage.
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