<i>Phlox </i>plant named ‘Dophlosprisca’

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Dophlosprisca’ 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 ‘Dophlosprisca’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late 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 46 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 subulata ‘Dophlosprisca’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox subulata identified as code number SB10-000012-012, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox subulata identified as code number SB10-000008-002, 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; outwardly spreading to creeping and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and relatively slow growth rate. Plant height.—About 14 cm. Plant width (spread).—About 44 cm. Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit with numerous primary and secondary lateral branches developing per plant. Length: About 17 cm. Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 10° from vertical to horizontal. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color, developing: Close to 145B. Color, developed: Close to 145A; with development, becoming close to 199B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple; sessile. Length.—About 1.2 cm. Width.—About 3 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Entire, slightly ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Venation pattern.—Hyphodromous. Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C. 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 three open flowers per inflorescence and about 525 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season. Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant. Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 39 weeks after planting; plants flower in April and May in the garden in The Netherlands; flowers persistent. Flower buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 74A. Inflorescence height.—About 11 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm. Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 2.6 cm. Flower depth.—About 1.2 cm. Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm. Flower tube length.—About 6 mm. Flower diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm. Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About 1.2 cm. Lobe width: About 8 mm. Lobe shape: Obovate. Lobe apex: Obtuse. Lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 74A; towards the throat, close to 187A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 74A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 74A; towards the throat, close to 187B; venation, close to 74A; color becoming closer to 78A with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 78A; venation, close to 78A; color becoming closer to 78B with development. Throat: Close to 187B; venation, close to 187B. Tube: Close to 72A; venation, close to 72A. Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, tubular in shape. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid, subulate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent; glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 79A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 141A. Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 70° from lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 53A. Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Flexible. Aspect: About 10° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 53A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C. Anther size: About 1 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther color: Close to 5A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 21A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150C. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. 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.