<i>Ajuga </i>plant named ‘Trotou’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Ajuga plant named ‘Trotou’ that is characterized by its foliage that is vibrant gold color with central mid-veins that are bright pink in color, its young stolon stems that are pink in color, its peduncle leaves that are purple in color at the tip of the flowering stems, and its high resistance to sun scorch and thrives in full sun in the summer in Michigan.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Ajuga plant named ‘Trotou’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of 2-year-old plants of the new Ajuga as grown in a greenhouse in 1-gallon containers in Hudsonville, Mich.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of ‘Trotou’.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Trotou’.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Trotou’.

(5) The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Ajuga.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of 6-month-old plants of the new Ajuga as grown in 4-inch containers in a greenhouse in Hudsonville, Mich. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Blooming period.—4 to 6 weeks in late spring into summer in Michigan. Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial. Plant habit.—Dense, groundcover, compact upright inflorescences. Height and spread.—15 cm in height (soil level to top of floral plane), an average of 11 cm in height (soil level to top of foliar plane) and 12 cm in width, mature plant in the landscape reaches an average of 10 cm in height and 46 cm in spread. Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8. Diseases and pests.—Plants have been observed to be disease free, however no resistance to any specific diseases is known, no resistance or susceptibility to pests has been observed. Root description.—Fine and fibrous, a blend of 158A and NN155A in color. Propagation type.—Tip stem cuttings and division. Root development.—An unrooted stem cutting will fully root in a 50-cell plug in 8 weeks and a 50-cell plug will fully root in a 1-gallon container in 10 weeks. Growth rate.—Highly vigorous. Branching habit.—Basal rosettes of leaves from rhizomes. Stolon.—Primarily 186B in color, an average of 3.5 mm in width, indeterminate length. Foliage description: Leaf shape.—Spatulate. Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf base.—Truncate to base of rhizome. Leaf apex.—Broadly acute. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, matches surface colors with upper surface main vein 158B flushed with 186A towards the base. Leaf margins.—Undulate. Leaf attachment and arrangement.—Whorled, held in in clumps. Leaf orientation.—Upright and slightly outward. Leaf surface.—Rugose, very finely puberulent on upper surface, slightly rough to the touch, glossy, lower surface glabrous and glossy. Leaf color.—Young and mature upper surface; 154A, young and mature lower surface; 145A, peduncle leaves at the tip of the inflorescence are a blend of N77A and N77C, winter; 199D in color on both surfaces. Leaf size.—Average of 11 cm in length and 3.5 cm in width. Leaf quantity.—Average of 10 per 4-inch container. Leaf attachment.—Sessile. Flower description: Inflorescence type.—Verticillaster, terminal spike, individual flowers in clusters held in leaf-axils. Inflorescence size.—An average of 9 cm in height and 4 cm in width. Inflorescence number.—50 to 70 blooms as a fully mature plant grown in a 1-gallon container. Lastingness of inflorescence.—10 to 14 days, self-cleaning. Flower type.—Labiate. Flower number.—Average of 15 per inflorescence. Flower fragrance.—None. Flower buds.—Oblanceolate in shape, average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter, a blend of 92A and 92B in color, immature calyx 144A in color, surface matte and densely covered with long, soft woolly pubescence up to 3 mm in length with color matching surface colors. Flower size.—Average of 1 cm in depth, 1 cm in diameter, throat 2 mm in diameter, tube 6 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter. Peduncles.—An average of 10 cm in length, 5 mm in diameter, vertical angle, moderately strong, color; 185C, surface is very densely covered with long woolly hairs; up to 2 mm in length, translucent and matching surface color. Calyx.—Rotate and tubular in shape, 3 mm in diameter. Sepals.—5, 55% fused at base, average of 3 mm in length, 1 mm in width, ovate in shape, apex acute, entire margins, surface is heavily covered with long woolly hairs NN155D in color and translucent, surface color; inner and outer surface 144B. Petals.—40% of petals fused into tube, upper central lobe; notched, average of 5 mm in length, 4 mm in width, rounded in shape, obtuse apex, entire margins, slightly recurved, upper and lower surface glabrous, satiny, color; upper surface when opening and fully open 97A, veins 83A, lower surface when opening and fully open 91C, outer lobes; 2, average of 3 mm in length, 2 mm in width, oblanceolate in shape, apex is obtuse, entire margins, no undulation, upper and lower surface glabrous and velvety, color; N89C, edges N89A, lower surface when opening and fully open 92A and 92B, flower throat and tube; outer and inner surface covered with woolly soft pubescence NN155D in color. Reproductive organs: Pistils.—1, style; 5 mm in length, color; 93B, top 92C, stigma; non-distinguishable, ovary; oblong, 1 mm in length and width, N144B in color. Stamens.—4, filament; mostly implanted into flower tube, average of 2 mm in length, top 92D, anthers; club-shaped, 0.5 mm in diameter, 203A in color, pollen; moderate in quantity, 16A in color. Fruit.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed to date.