<i>Lavandula </i>plant named ‘IB61003’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘IB61003’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; light pink-colored flowers with small to medium-sized light pink-colored sterile flower bracts arranged on short terminal spikes; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘IB61003’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘IB61003’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 35° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 35° C. Plants were six months old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘IB61003’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘FW Spellbound’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,641. Male, or pollen, parent.—Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘FW Spellbound’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,641. Propagation: Type.—Terminal softwood vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at temperatures about 24° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at temperatures about 21° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 to 28 days at temperatures ranging from 23° C. to 26° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 to 40 days at temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 18° C. Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and upright plant habit; roughly columnar in overall shape; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; flowers arranged in verticillasters on terminal spikes; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 16.25 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20.5 cm. Plant width.—About 16.5 cm. Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About six to seven primary lateral branches each with potentially two secondary branches developing at every node during the flowering season. Length: About 9.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Densely tomentose; slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144A to 144B. Color, developed: Close to 144B. Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile. Length, largest leaves: About 3.75 cm. Width, largest leaves: About 6 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Sharply acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly to moderately revolute. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic, pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B to NN137C; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 137B. Flower description: Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform flowers arranged in verticillasters on terminal cylindrical spikes; freely flowering habit with about 60 to 80 flowers developing in five to seven whorls per inflorescence and numerous inflorescences developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the spike. Natural flowering season.—Relatively long flowering period; continuous from late winter to late spring/early summer in Australia. Flower longevity on the plant.—Inflorescences last about one month on the plant; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.—Resinous, pungent. Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 143A. Inflorescence height.—About 2.1 cm, excluding terminal bracts. Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.4 cm, excluding terminal bracts. Flower diameter.—About 2.5 mm. Flower depth (height).—About 4 mm, including tube. Flower tube length.—About 2.5 mm. Flower tube diameter.—Less than 1 mm. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper and lower lips: About 1.9 mm. Width, upper and lower lips: About 1.4 mm. Shape, upper lip: Obovate. Shape, lower lip: Ovate. Apex, upper and lower lips: Obtuse, rounded. Margin, upper and lower lips: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper (inner) surface, upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower (outer) surface, upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower lips: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 65D; color becoming closer to 178A in color with subsequent development. Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Truncate to somewhat cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Translucent, close to 157C with venation, close to 143A. Sterile flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About four to six sterile flower bracts at apex of spike. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 7.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong; ruffled appearance. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D variably tinged with close to 65C to 65D; color does not change with subsequent development. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a campanulate tube. Calyx length: About 6 mm. Calyx diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 143A. Peduncles.—Length: About 6.25 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately strong to strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A to 144B. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to N79A. Ovary color: Close to 143A to 143B. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the new Lavandula. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind and temperatures ranging from 0° C. to 42° C.