Plants – Rose – Climber
Plant Patent
1999-10-22
2001-11-20
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Rose
Climber
Plant Patent
active
PP012217
ABSTRACT:
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 Elvera.
The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Weigela cultivars having dwarf plant habit and dark-colored leaves.
The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1993, in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of the nonpatented cultivar Victoria as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary Weigela selection, as the male, or pollen, parent.
The cultivar Elvera was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The selection of this plant was based on its dwarf growth habit and dark-colored leaves.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Boskoop, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Weigela are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Plants of the cultivar Elvera have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Elvera’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Elvera’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Dwarf, low mounded plant habit.
2. Freely branching; dense and bushy growth habit.
3. Very dark leaves that appear metallic during the late summer.
4. Relatively resistant to pathogens common to
Weigela florida.
Compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Victoria, plants of the new Weigela are much more dwarf, broader and more freely branching. In addition, plants of the new Weigela have significantly darker-colored leaves and darker pink and smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar Victoria.
Compared to plants of the male parent, the unnamed proprietary
Weigela florida
selection, plants of the new Weigela are more dwarf and more freely branching. In addition, plants of the new Weigela have darker-colored leaves than plants of the unnamed proprietary selection.
Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the commercial cultivar
Weigela florida
Alexandra, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,772. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Weigela differed from plants of the cultivar Alexandra in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Weigela are more dwarf and more mounded, less upright, than plants of the cultivar Alexandra.
2. Plants of the new Weigela are more slower growing than plants of the cultivar Alexandra and require less pruning.
3. Plants of the new Weigela are have finer branches and leaves than plants of the cultivar Alexandra.
4. Leaves of plants of the new Weigela have a metallic sheen whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Alexandra do not have a metallic sheen.
Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the nonpatented
Weigela florida
‘Purpurea nana’. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Weigela differed from plants of the cultivar Purpurea nana in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Weigela have a more dwarf and less upright growth habit than plants of the cultivar Purpurea nana.
2. Plants of the new Weigela are have a richer pink flower color than plants of the cultivar Purpurea nana.
3. Leaf color of plants of the new Weigela is darker than leaf color of plants of the cultivar Purpurea nana.
4. Leaf color of plants of the new Weigela becomes darker during the summer whereas leaf color of plants of the cultivar Purpurea nana fades during the summer.
5. Leaves of plants of the new Weigela are glossy and have a metallic sheen whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Purpurea nana are not glossy and do not have a metallic sheen.
Campell Bruce R.
Para A
Spring Meadow Nursery Inc.
Whealy C. A.
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