Rudbeckia plant named ‘American Gold Rush’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination smaller hairy foliage and shorter height, compared to the seed parent.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination smaller hairy foliage and shorter height, compared to the seed parent.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) FIG. 1. A blooming 2 year old plant in July.

(2) FIG. 2. A close up of the flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition. Plants used for the description were grown for two seasons at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Rudbeckia cultivar American Gold Rush. Parentage: Male or pollen parent an unknown Rudbeckia, female or seed parent Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii. Propagation: Vegetative division and stem cutting propagation. Root description: Fibrous, medium thickness, brown in color. Root habit: Moderate branching, moderate density. Plant description: Herbaceous perennial. Overall habit of the new Rudbeckia is a mound shaped clump, with branching stems topped by gold inflorescences starting in mid June. Plant height.—36 cm. Plant width.—39 cm. Primary stem diameter.—6-8 mm. Primary and secondary stem description.—Branching, with 20 or more leaves. Leaves get smaller as they go up the stem. Strength — strong. Primary and lateral stem texture.—Pubescent with, hairs up to 2 mm long. Secondary stem description.—Average 10 lateral stems per primary stem. Secondary stem length.—22 cm. Secondary stem diameter.—3 mm. Secondary stem internodes.—3 cm. Stem color.—N 144 A. Foliage: Type.—Herbaceous. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple, sessile. Length.—25 cm. Width.—5 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Attenuate. Margin.—Dentate. Texture.—Pubescent, soft. Venation.—Pinnate. Venation Color — 145 C. Adaxial leaf description.—Color is 146 A including developing, fully expanded. Abaxial leaf description.—Color is 146 B including developing, fully expanded. Bud: Bud Shape.—Oblate. Bud length.—12 mm. Bud diameter.—12 mm. Bud color.—145 C. Inflorescence: Inflorescence type.—Single, composite on branched flowering stems. Position.—Borne on both terminal and axillary peduncles above the foliage. Number of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 150. Arrangement.—Disc and ray florets. Mature center disc.—20 mm wide and 13-15 mm height. Number of disc florets.—300, number of ray florets 13-14. Immature disc floret color.—152 C. Mature Disc floret color.—Dark brown but close to 202 A. Disc floret diameter.—2-3 mm at apex, 1-2 mm at base. Disc floret shape.—Rotate. Disc floret length.—4 mm. Disc floret width.—2 mm. Disc floret apex.—Acute. Disc floret margin.—Entire. Disc floret count.—13-14. Ray floret size.—25-26 mm length and 8 mm width. Ray floret color upon opening and in full bloom.—Adaxial 17 A and Abaxial 17 C. Ray floret aspect.—Initially incurved, then upright, then perpendicular to the peduncle. Ray floret shape.—Lanceolate. Ray floret apex.—Emarginate. Ray floret base.—Obtuse. Ray floret margin.—Entire. Ray floret count.—Approximately 12-15 per inflorescence Ray floret texture.—Both the upper and lower surfaces axe smooth, glabrous. Overall inflorescence size.—6 cm or more across in diameter with ray florets, 1 cm in height. Receptacle height — 9 mm, diameter 3 cm across. Bloom period and duration.—Mid June through mid-September. 4-6 weeks on the plant. Blooming habit.—Domed, upright on 45-60 cm terminal flowering stems. Phyllaries: Number of phyllaries per inflorescence.—15 average. Length.—10 mm. Width.—3 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Mucronate. Base.—Fused. Margin.—Entire. Texture.—Both upper and lower surface scattered pubescence. Color.—Adaxial 146 C and Abaxial 146 A. Peduncles: Length of both terminal and axillary peduncles.—10 cm. Diameter.—2 mm. Angle.—Erect to about 55 degrees from vertical. Strength.—Strong, Texture — pubescent, Color — 146 C. Reproductive organs: Androecium.—Quantity per disc floret, 5. Filament length.—3-4 mm. Filament color.—145 C. Anther shape.—Oblong. Anther length.—1 mm. Anther color.—17 C. Pollen amount.—None observed. Gynoecium present on ray and disc florets.— Pistils.—One, length 3 mm. Stigma shape.—Two parted, Stigma color — 202 A. Style length.—4 mm, Style color — 202 A. Scent.—No scent noticed. Seed and fruit: None observed. Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Rudbeckia has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions. Hardiness: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have been observed to be hardy to USDA Zone 5.