Azalea plant named ‘NCRX6’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘NCRX6’ having a profusion of bright red/orange single flowers, cold-hardiness to USDA 6b, consistent Fall reblooming, a dense habit, and tetraploid cytotype. Plants exhibit mid-sized habit and propagate readily from stem cuttings. The new cultivar is a Rhododendron, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘NCRX6’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) ‘NCRX6’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form, foliage, and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the new hybrid Rhododendron.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates fully expanded trusses with bright red/orange flowers; image taken from a 2-year-old container plant grown in Grand Haven, Mich., in 2020.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the compact plant habit, plant form and profusion of flowers on a 2-year-old container-grown plant in Grand Haven, Mich., in 2020.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct hybrid evergreen azalea known by the denomination ‘NCRX6’. The detailed description was taken on a 3-year-old container-grown plant in Mills River, N.C., in 2020. Where pertinent, descriptive data was supplemented by observations/measurements taken on a 5-year-old individual located in field trials in Mills River, N.C., as well as information provided from cooperators in Grand Haven, Mich. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, 2015 Edition. Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as is practicable.

PLANT

(5) Plant type: Evergreen azalea. Growth habit/form: Globose, upward arching. Height at maturity: 75 cm-100 cm. Width at maturity: 100 cm -120 cm. Roots: Fibrous. Tan, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. Growth rate: Moderate. Shoots and branches: Shoots (current years softwood new growth).—Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Yellow-Green Group 147D. Texture: Pubescent. Pubescence color: RHS Greyed-Orange Group N165B. Shoot diameter: 1.5 mm to 3 mm. Shoot length: Variable, ranging from about 7 cm to 15 cm. Shoots (prior years woody shoot).—Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Greyed-Orange Group 165A, with exfoliating streaks of RHS Greyed-Orange Group 165B. Texture: Exfoliating, some pubescence. Pubescence color: RHS Greyed-Orange Group 164B. Stem diameter: Generally 2.5-5.5 mm. Stem length: Variable, ranging from 5-20 cm. Stem aspect: 0-90°. Branches (mature woody branches).—Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Greyed-Orange Group 177B, exfoliating streaks of RHS Greyed-Orange Group 164A. Texture: Gently exfoliating. Branch diameter: Approximately 5 mm to 10 mm. Branch length: Variable, approximately 20-50 cm. Branching: Freely-branched. Number of lateral branches: Variable, 30-50.

FOLIAGE

(6) Type: Evergreen. Arrangement: Alternate. Division: Simple. Shape: Elliptic to obelliptic. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Venation: Reticulate. Internode length: Approximately 5 mm to 15 mm. Immature leaf: Adaxial (upper) surface.— Color.—RHS Yellow-Green Group 144A. Surface.—Pubescent. Pubescence color.—RHS White Group N155B. Abaxial (lower) surface.— Color.—RHS Green Group 143C. Surface.—Pubescent. Pubescence.—RHS White Group N155B. Mature leaf: Length.—Approximately 2-5 cm. Width.—Approximately 1.5-3 cm. Color.—Adaxial (upper) surface: RHS Green Group 139A. Abaxial (lower) surface: RHS Green Group N138B. Surface: Both sides are lightly pubescent along the midrib. Pubescence color: RHS Greyed-Orange Group 163C. Fall/Winter Color (Leaf): Adaxial side: RHS Yellow-Green Group 147A. Abaxial side: RHS Yellow-Green Group 148B. Leaf attachment.—Petiolate. Petiole: Shape.—Lunate. Length.—Approximately 6-15 mm. Diameter.—Approximately 1-2 mm. Color.—Adaxial/abaxial side: RHS Yellow-Green Group 144B. Surface: Both sides are pubescent. Pubescence color: RHS Greyed-Orange Group 164B.

FLOWER

(7) Type: Congested terminal raceme (truss). Flowering season: Mid-Spring (Mid-April to June) reblooms in Early Fall (Late September through October). Flowering habit: Free-flowering. Flower number: 2-7 flowers per truss. Consistency in display: Blooms reliably in the Spring and consistently reblooms in the Fall. Lastingness of flowers: Each flower lasts approximately 3-7 days. Fragrance: None. Self-cleaning or persistent: Self-cleaning. Truss bud: Length.—Approximately 10-15 mm. Diameter.—Approximately 6-12 mm. Bud scales.—Number: Variable: 5-7. Length: Approximately 10-15 mm. Width: Approximately 6-10 mm. Color prior opening: RHS Yellow-Green Group 145B. Color after flowers emerge: RHS Yellow-Green Group 145B. Texture: Adaxial side is glabrous; abaxial side is pubescent at tip. Emerging floral buds: Shape.—Elliptic, acuminate. Length.—2.5-4 cm. Diameter.—10-15 mm. Color.—RHS Red Group 43A. Perianth: Diameter at anthesis.—4.5-6.5 cm. Depth.—2.5-4.5 cm. Organization.—Petals are arranged in a single whorl. Aspect.—Facing upwards and outwards. Shape.—Broadly funnel-shaped. Attachment.—Pedicellate. Petals: Length.—4-5 cm. Width.—2-3 cm. Shape.—Obovate. Apex.—Obtuse. Base.—Acuminate. Margin.—Undulate. Fused or unfused.—Fused at the midpoint. Color.—Color is consistent from opening to anthesis. Adaxial (upper) surface: RHS Red Group 43A. Blotch: RHS Red Group 46A. Surface: Smooth, silky. Abaxial (lower) surface: RHS Red Group 43A. Surface: Smooth, silky. Petal number.—5. Calyx/receptacle: Shape.—Star-shaped, single-whorl of persistent sepals. Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: 8-11 mm. Width: 3-5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Fused or unfused: Unfused. Color: RHS Yellow-Green Group 145B. Surface: Adaxial side is glabrous; abaxial side is pubescent. Pedicels: Shape.—Rounded. Length.—11-16 mm. Diameter.—1-2 mm. Color.—RHS Red Group 44A. Surface.—Both sides are pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(8) Generally, flowers are both complete and perfect, although individual flowers may vary. Gynoecium: Pistil number.—1. Pistil length.—5-7 cm. Stigma shape.—Orbicular to elliptic. Stigma length.—1.5-2 mm. Stigma width.—1.5-2 mm. Stigma color.—RHS Red Group 43C. Style length.—5-6 cm. Style diameter.—0.5-1 mm. Style color.—RHS Red Group 43C. Ovary shape.—Dome-shaped. Ovary length.—4-6 mm. Ovary diameter.—2-4 mm. Ovary color.—RHS Yellow-Green Group 147B. Surface.—Tomentose, RHS White Group 155A. Androecium: Stamen number.—7. Anther shape.—Ovoid with two apical pores. Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed. Anther length.—2-4 mm. Anther width.—1-2 mm. Anther color.—RHS Red-Purple Group 59A. Filament length.—3-5 cm. Filament diameter.—Approximately 1 mm. Filament color.—RHS Red Group 43C. Amount of pollen.—Moderate. Pollen type.—Vicinate. Pollen color.—RHS Yellow-White Group 158B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(9) Fruit type: Capsule. Fruit texture: Pubescent/tomentose. Fruit length: Approximately 10 mm if successfully pollinated, ˜5 mm if not. Fruit diameter: Approximately 5 mm if successfully pollinated, ˜2.5 mm if not. Fruit color: Immature.—RHS Yellow-Green Group 147B. Mature.—RHS Greyed-Orange Group 177A/B. Seed number: Variable 0 to hundreds, although fruit set is rare. Seed length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Seed diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Seed color: RHS Yellow-Orange Group 22B. Propagation: Roots readily (>90%) from firm, terminal, softwood stem cuttings taken in mid-summer. ‘NCRX6’ roots well when the bottom 2 cm of the stems are treated for 5 seconds with 3,000-5,000 ppm of potassium salt of indole-3-butyric acid (KIBA) dissolved in water and placed under intermittent mist for 8-10 weeks until roots form. Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect pests have been observed. Cold hardiness: Has been reliably cold hardy in USDA 6b. Has not been evaluated in colder regions. Ploidy: ‘NCRX6’ is a stable tetraploid. ‘NCRX6’ has been confirmed via flow cytometry and remains stable after successive propagation.