<i>Philodendron </i>plant named ‘Summer Glory’

Abstract

A new and distinct Philodendron plant named ‘Summer Glory’ particularly distinguished by unique reddish bronze colored foliage on young leaves, foliage that turns a dark, shiny green as foliage matures, durability, and relative freedom from pests, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Philodendron plant named ‘Summer Glory’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) This new Philodendron cultivar is illustrated by the accompanying colored photographs which show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 3-year-old plant grown in a 2-gallon container under 60 to 90 percent shade in a ploy covered greenhouse in Apopka, Fla. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description which accurately describes the colors of the new variety.

(2) FIG. 1. shows a side view of the overall plant form and foliage of ‘Summer Glory’.

(3) FIG. 2. shows a top view of the overall plant form and foliage of ‘Summer Glory’.

(4) FIG. 3. shows a closeup of a juvenile leaf of ‘Summer Glory’.

(5) FIG. 4. shows the cataphylls surrounding an emerging leaf of ‘Summer Glory’.

(6) FIG. 5. shows the roots of ‘Summer Glory’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(7) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

(8) The following observations and measurements describe plants grown under 60 to 90 percent shade in a poly covered greenhouse in Apopka, Fla. Detailed descriptions were taken in May 2021 from a 3-year-old plant grown in a 2-gallon container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) Classification: Family.—Araceae. Botanical.—Philodendron hybrid. Common.—Philodendron. Denomination.—‘Summer Glory’. General description: Plant type.—Tropical perennial herb. Growth habit.—Upright to arching. Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—53.34 cm. Plant spread.—91.44 cm. Number of basal shoots per plant.—5. Stems.—Approximately 3.80 cm in diameter. Growth rate.—Moderate. Propagation type.—In-vitro meristem tip culture. Time to initiate rooting.—2 weeks. Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 weeks. Roots.—Fleshy and fibrous, colored brownish orange, 171B. Foliage description: Quantity of leafs per plant.—Approximately 16. Arrangement.—Alternate. Attachment.—Petiolate. Division.—Simple. Lamina.—Shape: Cordate-saggitate. Length: 35.6 cm. Width: 22.9 cm. Orientation: Held horizontal to slightly downward. Apex: Aristate. Base: Deeply lobed, lobes about 10.2 cm in depth and 8.9 cm in width, lobes slightly overlap at the base on some leaves. Aspect: Moderately concave. Margins: Entire, slightly to moderately undulate. Texture and luster, adaxial surface: Smooth, glabrous and glossy. Testure and luster, abaxial surface: Smooth, glabrous and moderately glossy. Color: Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface: Reddish bronze, 173A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface: Grayish red, 176B, edges are dark red, 183A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface: Overall dark green, NN137A, with faint streaking of yellow-green, NN144A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface: Reddish brown, 177A. Venation: Pattern: Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface: Purplish pink, 186C to 186D on younger foliage, venation color fades with age. Color, abaxial surface: Green, 137B to 137C. Petiole.—Strength: Moderately strong. Shape in cross-section: Very widely ovate. Length: 40.6 cm. Width: 2.54 cm at point of attachment to main stem, narrowing to 0.64 cm at point of attachment to base of lamina. Orientation: Approximately 45 to 60 degrees from the central vertical axis. Texture and luster, adaxial surface: Slightly raised, broken linear striations are present, otherwise glabrous, and slightly glossy. Color: Mostly green, 137B, with a deltoid shaped region at the base colored dark red, 187A to 187B; linear striations are colored gray, 195A, with a slight tint of purplish pink, 186D. Cataphyll.—Description: Double keeled. Shape: Lanceolate. Length: 25.0 cm. Width: 3.8 cm at the base, narrowing towards the apex. Color: Dark red, 59A to 59B, turning lighter red towards the base. Inflorescence: None observed. Cold tolerance: Can tolerate down to or near freezing temperatures (30 to 34 degrees F.). Disease and pest tolerance: Good. Fruit and seed set: None observed. Drought tolerance: Good.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL VARIETIES

(10) ‘Summer Glory’ differs from the female parent Philodendron plant in that ‘Summer Glory’ has dramatically different and larger leaf shape and color with striking red colored cataphylls surrounding emerging leaves. ‘Summer Glory’ differs from the male parent Philodendron plant in that ‘Summer Glory’ is much more colorful and more robust.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

(11) When ‘Summer Glory’ is compared to the commercial Philodendron plant ‘Prince of Orange’ (expired U.S. Plant Pat. No. 06,797), the juvenile leaf color on the adaxial surface of ‘Summer Glory’ is reddish bronze, whereas the juvenile leaf color on the adaxial surface of ‘Prince of Orange’ is bright orange. Further, ‘Summer Glory’ has a cordate-saggitate leaf shape with veins colored purplish pink, whereas ‘Prince of Orange’ has a narrowly ovate leaf shape with veins colored pink. Additionally, the growth habit of ‘Summer Glory’ is upright to arching with a prominent main stem, whereas the growth habit of ‘Prince of Orange’ is compact with a very short to near absent main stem.