Plants – Shrub or vine – Azalea or rhododendron
Plant Patent
2002-03-15
2003-02-18
Bell, Kent L. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Shrub or vine
Azalea or rhododendron
Plant Patent
active
PP013571
ABSTRACT:
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION
Rhododendron hybrida
‘Vibration’.
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 ‘Vibration’.
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, profuse and uniform flowering response, 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-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 1993, in Alva, Fla., of a proprietary Azalea selection identified as code number YB-0903, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Azalea selection identified as code number YB-0327, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. 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 January, 1996. The selection of this plant was based on its large and showy white-colored flowers with random red purple-colored flecks and spots, semi-double to double flower form, uniform flowering response, good foliage retention, and excellent postproduction longevity.
Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since May, 1996, 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 and/or light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Vibration’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Vibration’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the cooling and forcing periods.
2. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.
3. Freely branching habit; usually about three to four lateral branches develop after pinching.
4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.
5. Rapid flowering response; plants begin flowering about 23 days after cooling treatment.
6. Numerous, large and showy white-colored flowers with random red purple-colored flecks and spots.
7. Semi-double to double flower form.
8. Excellent postproduction longevity with plants maintaining good flower substance for about four weeks in an interior environment.
9. Very low incidence of infection with Cylindrocladium in inoculated trials.
In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Azalea differed from plants of the female parent, the selection YB-0903, in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Azalea were larger and grew faster than plants of the selection YB-0903.
2. Plants of the new Azalea had better foliage retention under stress conditions than plants of the selection YB-0903.
3. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea were white in color with random red purple-colored flecks and spots whereas flowers of plants of the selection YB-0903 were white in color without flecks and spots.
In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Azalea differed from plants of the male parent, the selection YB-0327, in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Azalea were more uniform in plant habit and not as vigorous as plants of the selection YB-0327.
2. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea were white in color with random red purple-colored flecks and spots whereas flowers of plants of the selection YB-0327 were dark pink in color without flecks or spots.
Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to the plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,132. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Azalea differed from plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’ in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Azalea had larger leaves than plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 remembrance’.
2. Plants of the new Azalea had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’.
3. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea were white in color with random red purple-colored flecks and spots whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’ were pink in color without flecks or spots.
Bell Kent L.
Whealy C. A.
Yoder Brother's Inc.
LandOfFree
Azalea plant named ‘Vibration’ 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 ‘Vibration’, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Azalea plant named ‘Vibration’ will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3181346