<i>Phlox </i>plant named ‘Dophloworo’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Dophloworo’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; large light purple-colored flowers with deep reddish purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Dophloworo’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Phlox 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 Phlox plant.

(2) The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plant of ‘Dophloworo’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the end of winter and early spring in 17-cm containers initially in a glass-covered greenhouse and finished in an outdoor nursery in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were pinched one time two weeks after planting rooted young plants and plants were 40 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Second Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Phlox x procumbens Lehm ‘Dophloworo’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox x procumbens Lehm identified as code number SB-0001, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox x procumbens Lehm identified as code number SB-0042, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at temperatures about 26° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 23° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days at temperatures about 23° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 18° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown as a container and garden plant; upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and relatively slow growth rate. Plant height.—About 26 cm. Plant width (spread).—About 42 cm. Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit with numerous primary and secondary lateral branches developing per plant. Length: About 19 cm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to horizontal. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color, developing: Close to 142A tinged with close to 47C. Color, developed: Close to 143A tinged with close to 47B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple; sessile. Length.—About 3.5 cm. Width.—About 7 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Entire, ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; semi-glossy. Venation pattern.—Hyphodromous. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147A. Flower description: Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers arranged in terminal and lateral panicles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly depending on position on inflorescence; freely flowering habit with about seven open flowers per inflorescence and about 950 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season. Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant. Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 38 weeks after planting; plants flower in April and May in the garden in The Netherlands; flowers persistent. Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 75A. Inflorescence height.—About 18 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 9 cm. Flower diameter.—About 2.1 cm. Flower depth.—About 2.6 cm. Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm. Flower tube length.—About 1 cm. Flower diameter, proximally.—About 3 mm. Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About 1.3 cm. Lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Lobe shape: Obovate. Lobe apex: Emarginate. Lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Lobe texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75A; towards the throat, close to 77A; venation, close to 82A; color becoming closer to 96B with development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75A; venation, close to 82A; color becoming closer to 96B with development. Throat: Close to 77A; venation, close to 77A. Tube: Close to 77A; venation, close to 77A. Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, tubular in shape. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid, subulate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 143A tinged with close to 187A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 143A. Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 20° from lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 143A tinged with close to 47A. Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Weak. Aspect: About 10° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 60A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145A. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther color: Close to 83A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 23A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150A. Style length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to 149A. Ovary color: Close to 140A. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Phlox. Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, temperatures ranging from −35° C. to 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 3. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phlox have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox plants.