Buddleia plant named ‘UCONNBD604’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleia plant named ‘UCONNBD604’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit and thick stems with short internodes; dense and bushy appearance; leathery and durable leaves; freely flowering habit; broadly conical inflorescences with numerous blue purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Buddleia plant named ‘UCONNBD604’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Buddleia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. 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 Buddleia plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘UCONNBD604’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘UCONNBD604’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Buddleia davidii ‘UCONNBD604’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Buddleia davidii ‘Adokeep’, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Buddleia davidii identified as code designation Uconn dwf-01, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots plant, summer.—About one to two weeks at temperatures ranging from 21° C. to 29° C. Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 30 days at temperatures ranging from 21° C. to 29° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in color. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub; relatively compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; rounded appearance; thick stems, short internodes and dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit. Plant height.—About 42.2 cm. Plant width (spread).—About 89.5 cm. Lateral branches.—Quantity: Freely branching habit with about twelve primary lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length: About 30 cm to 36 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 35° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent, glaucous; with development, woody. Color, developing: Close to 145C. Color, developed: Close to 199B with striations, close to 199A. Leaf description: Arrangement and appearance.—Opposite, simple; leaves durable and leathery. Length.—About 13 cm. Width.—About 4.5 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute to acuminate. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Serrate; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent, coriaceous; venation prominent. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A and 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 194A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 194A; faint speckles, close to 20B; venation, close to 145B. Petioles.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 145A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. Flower description: Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged on terminal and axillary panicles; inflorescences face mostly outwardly; panicles broadly conical in shape; freely flowering habit with more than 400 flowers developing per inflorescence; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.—Fragrant; sweet, honey-like, pleasant. Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants flower continuously from mid-summer into the autumn in Michigan. Flower buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Towards the base, close to 83A; mid-section, close to 86C; towards the apex, close to 86A. Inflorescence length.—About 7.8 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.3 cm. Flower diameter.—About 5 mm. Flower depth.—About 1.3 cm. Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong to obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Slightly acute. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to 77B; towards the margins, close to 89D. Developing petals, lower surface: Close to 77C; towards the margins, close to 89D. Fully developed petals, upper surface: Close to 87B; towards the margins, close to 89C; color fades only slightly with development. Fully developed petals, lower surface: Close to 88D; towards the margins, close to 88B; color fades only slightly with development. Throat: Close to 31A. Tube: Close to 88D. Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface: Towards the base, close to 145C and towards the apex, close to 147C. Color, lower surface: Close to 148D. Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Texture: Pubescent to smooth and glabrous. Color: Close to 145B tinged with close to 184A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically four. Filament length: About 0.6 mm. Filament color: Close to 155B tinged with close to 145B. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 155B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Oblong. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits.—Quantity of fruit per lateral branch: More than 100. Fruit length: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Fruit diameter: About 2 mm. Fruit texture: Smooth. Fruit color: Close to 144B; towards the apex, slightly overlain with close to N186D. Seed length: Less than 1 mm. Seed diameter: Less than 1 mm. Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Buddleia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Buddleia plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Buddleia have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6.