Buddleja plant named ‘Miss Violet’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Buddleja plant named ‘Miss Violet’ substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its compact stature, dense and semi-upright growth habit, oblong-elliptic leaf shape, violet flower color, distorted male flower parts (anthers) resulting in male sterility, and female structures that show reduced function, resulting in reduced seed formation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named ‘Miss Violet’ as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The photographs in the drawings were made using digital photography techniques, and show the colors as true as reasonably possible by digital photography. 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 Buddleja variety ‘Miss Violet’. Photographs were taken from one-year-old plants growing in Jackson Springs, N.C.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the entire inflorescence of ‘Miss Violet’.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a typical plant of ‘Miss Violet’, showing the compact stature, semi-upright growth habit, dense foliage, and violet flowers.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the typical coloration and form of leaves of ‘Miss Violet’. This figure shows the upper (top) and lower (bottom) leaf surface.

(5) FIG. 4 provides the pedigree of Buddleja ‘Miss Violet’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

(6) The following is a detailed description of the botanical and ornamental characteristics of the subject butterfly bush ‘Miss Violet’. Color data are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations of averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

(7) The descriptions reported herein are from two-year-old specimens grown in field research trials in Jackson Springs, N.C. General information: Genus.—Buddleja. Species.—Complex hybrid, including davidii, globosa, and lindleyana. Denomination.—‘Miss Violet’. Commercial classification.—Shrub, deciduous. Common name.—Butterfly bush. Uses.—Patio container plant, herbaceous perennial border, or shrub border for residential and commercial landscapes. Cultural requirements.—Full sun exposure, well-drained soil, and moderate moisture. Parentage.—‘Miss Violet’ is a sixth-generation hybrid that resulted from the most recent cross pollination of ‘Blue Chip’בMiss Molly’. See FIG. 4 for entire pedigree.

(8) The new variety is similar to the parent variety ‘Blue Chip’ in most horticultural characteristics, however the new variety differs in the following: 1. The new variety flower color is Violet 83A, flower color of ‘Blue Chip’ is Violet-Blue 90A. 2. Height of a 2 year old plant of the new variety is approximately 140 cm, height of a similar age plant of ‘Blue Chip’ is 46 cm.

(9) The new variety is similar to the parent variety ‘Miss Molly’ in most horticultural characteristics, however the new variety differs in the following: 1. The new variety flower color is Violet 83A, flower color of ‘Miss Molly’ is Red-Purple 61B. 2. Height of a 2 year old plant of the new variety is approximately 140 cm, height of a similar age plant of ‘Miss Molly’ is 83 cm. Plant description: Blooming period.—June through October. Blooming habit.—Paniculate. Vigor.—Moderate vigor. Plant habit.—Compact, semi-upright habit. Height and spread.—1.2 m (height) and 1.6 m (width) on two-year-old unpruned plants. Hardiness.—To date, hardy to minus 14 degrees Centigrade (7 degrees Fahrenheit). Not tested below this temperature. Anticipated adapted to USDA hardiness zones 5-9. Propagation.—Softwood to semi-hardwood cuttings under intermittent mist. Roots typically form in 2-3 weeks. Root system.—Fibrous, spreading. Seasonal interest.—Violet (RHS 83A) flowers in spring, summer, and fall on a compact shrub with semi-upright growth habit. Disease and pest susceptibility and resistance.—No particular susceptibility or resistance, except occasionally susceptible to spider mites under very hot and dry conditions. Special growing requirements.—Moderate yearly pruning in late winter or early spring prior to bud break is recommended to encourage more profuse flowering. Stems: Shape.—Stem cross section is round. Length.—Average 61.9 cm in one year of growth. Color.—Yellow-green (RHS 145B) on recently formed shoots. Diameter.—4.1 mm at base of new growth. Stem surface.—Slight pubescence. Pubescence.—Sparse. Internode length.—5.9 cm in the middle of new growth. Foliage: Type.—Deciduous. Leaf arrangement.—Opposite, decussate. Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf shape.—Oblong-elliptic. Leaf base.—Attenuate. Leaf apex.—Acute. Leaf venation.—Pinnate. Leaf surface (abaxial).—Slightly pubescent. Leaf margin.—Serrulate. Leaf attachment.—Petiolate. Petiole dimensions.—9.2 mm length. 1 mm width. Petiole shape.—Sulcate and slightly pubescent. Petiole color.—Yellow-green (RHS 146C). Leaf color.—Adaxial side: green (RHS N137C). Abaxial side: grayed-green (RHS 191B). Leaf midrib color.—Abaxial side: greyed-green (RHS 194C). Leaf length.—Avg. 8.9 cm. Leaf width.—Avg. 3.6 cm. Foliar fragrance.—None detectable. Flowers: Inflorescence.—Dense panicle, terminal and axillary. Flower shape.—Salverform. Petals.—4 in number. Fused or unfused.—Fused at base. Petal margin.—Entire. Petal apex.—Rounded lobes, serrulate. Petal base.—Truncate. Petal surfaces.—Lacking pubescence. Petal shape.—Rotund. Petal dimensions.—4.4 mm total length. 3.6 mm width at apex. 1 mm width at base. Petal color.—Adaxial and abaxial surface (open flower): Violet (RHS 83A). Closed flower prior to opening: Violet (RHS 83A). Corolla tube color.—Outside of corolla: Violet (RHS 83A). Corolla throat color.—Inside of corolla: Yellow-orange (RHS 21D). Corolla tube surfaces (inner and outer surfaces).—Pubescence lacking. Corolla tube shape.—Tubular. Color of peduncle.—Green (RHS 142B). Peduncle surface.—Glaucous. Peduncle length.—18.0 cm. Peduncle shape.—Flattened oval in cross section. Pedicel dimensions.—2.0 mm in length and less than 1 mm in diameter. Pedicel color.—Green (RHS 142B). Pedicel shape.—Flattened oval in cross section. Pedicel surface.—Glaucous. Flowers persistent or self-cleaning.—Flowers are persistent. Lastingness of the overall inflorescence.—7-10 days. Lastingness of an individual flower.—3-5 days. Dimensions of inflorescence.—18.0 cm length. 2.1 cm base width/tapering to 0.5 cm at tip. Quantity of flowers.—Avg. 411.2 flowers per panicle (average of 5 panicles). Bud apex.—Rounded lobes, serrulate. Bud surface.—Glaucous. Lacking pubescence. Bud shape.—Elongated, linear balloon. Calyx shape.—Tubular. Calyx dimensions.—1 mm in width and 3.4 mm in length. Sepals.—Four in number. Sepal shape.—Lanceolate. Sepal apex.—Acute. Sepal margin.—Entire. Sepal surface.—Glabrous. Sepal color.—Green (RHS 138D). Flower fragrance.—Distinct sweet fragrance. Reproductive organs: Stamens.—Malformed and non-functional. Anther shape.—Malformed. Filament size.—Absent. Pollen amount.—Absent. Pistil.—One in number. Pistil dimensions.—3 mm in length, and less than 1 mm in diameter. Stigma color.—Yellow-green (RHS 144A). Style color.—Yellow-green (RHS 144D). Ovary.—Present. Ovary position.—Superior. Ovary shape.—Oval. Fertility.—Essentially male (pollen) and female (seed) sterile.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Fruit: Type.—Capsule. Rarely observed. Reduced female fertility. Dimensions.—2 mm length and 1 mm width. Color.—Yellow-green (RHS 144C) when immature.