<i>Rhododendron </i>plant named ‘HoldenRhodo214’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘HoldenRhodo214’ is disclosed, characterized by showy rose-purple flowers, and dark, glossy foliage ‘HoldenRhodo214’ has a compact habit and has been observed to have a high survival rate in evaluation fields known to contain the root rot soil pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. Also observed is robust growth in full sun in unamended sand and gravel loam soils, up to pH 6.2. Profuse and consistent flowering, with plant and flower buds hardy to at least −26° C. The new variety is a Rhododendron, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘HoldenRhodo214’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘HoldenRhodo214’ grown outdoors in Madison, Ohio. This plant is approximately 10 years old, grown in the ground.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a 3-year old plant of ‘HoldenRhodo214’(right) and the seed parent ‘Ingrid Mehlquist’(left).

(3) The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘HoldenRhodo214’ plants grown outdoors in Madison, Ohio. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Rhododendron ‘HoldenRhodo214’.

PROPAGATION

(5) Root initiation: Roots from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late Summer or Autumn. Stem cuttings are wounded and dipped in 7500 ppm IBA for 5s. Root description: Fibrous, white aging to brown. Color not accurately measured with RHS Chart.

PLANT

(6) General growing conditions: Open-field conditions during Spring in Northeast Ohio, unamended gravel loam soil, pH 6.2. Growth habit: Compact and densely branched. Height: 83 cm. Plant spread: Approximately 116 cm in length, 91 cm in width. Age of plant described: Approximately 10 years. Growth rate: Moderate. Branching characteristics: Well-branched, dense. Primary branches: Quantity.—3 to 5. Length.—About 8 to 12 cm, then splitting to lateral branches. Diameter.—About 2.5 cm. Strength.—Very strong. Texture.—Young: Glabrous. Mature: Coarsely striated. Color.—Young: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 177A with coarse striation colored near Grey-Brown 199A. Length of lateral branches: 58 cm. Number of lateral branches: Approximately 11. Diameter of lateral branches: 2 cm. Angle of attachment: 45°. Pinching required: Minimal. Lateral branch shape: Cylindrical/conical. Lateral branch strength: Strong. Lateral branch color: Mature: Combination of colors near RHS Grey-Brown 199A, Greyed-Green 198D, and Greyed-Orange 177B. Young: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C. Internode: 1 to 3 cm.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.—Alternate. Shape.—Elliptic to oblanceolate. Average length.—7.7 cm. Average width.—3.4 cm. Apex.—Broadly acute. Base.—Broadly cuneate to rounded. Margin.—Entire. Texture of top surface.—Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous. Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 143C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Venation: Type.—Pinnate. Color, upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 153C. Color, under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D. Petiole: Length.—1 cm. Width.—0.6 cm. Color, upper surface.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A. Color, lower surface.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151D. Texture.—Glabrous.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: May in Northeast Ohio. Inflorescence: Arrangement.—Terminal buds open to clusters of single, perfect, broadly funnel-shaped flowers. Type.—Raceme. Height.—11 cm. Width.—13 cm. Quantity of flowers.—About 13 to 16 flowers per inflorescence. Typical quantity of inflorescences per plant.—90 to 110. Bud: Shape.—Elliptic. Length.—2.8 cm. Diameter.—1.5 cm. Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 61B. Flower: Shape.—Campanulate. Facing direction.—Outward. Quantity per lateral stem.—1 inflorescence per terminal shoot. Diameter of entire flower.—6.5 cm. Depth/length.—7.3 cm. Rate of opening.—Approximately 100% of flowers open at once on whole plant. Longevity on plant.—Individual flowers 7 days; total duration of bloom ranges from 2 to 3 weeks, weather depending. Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning. Fragrance.—None detected. Tube: Length.—3.8 cm. Width.—At widest point: 2.2 cm. At narrowest point: 0.4 cm. Petals: Measurements for unfused petal segments. Number.—5. Margin.—Entire, strongly undulating, ruffled. Apex.—Rounded and undulating. Length.—Approximately 2.6 cm. Width.—Approximately 3.6 cm. Shape.—Orbicular to semi-circular. Fused.—Partially, approximately 45% of their length. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—First opening: Interior Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 64C. Dorsal petal has linear speckles near RHS Dark Red 183B. Exterior Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60D. Mature: Interior Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N66D. Dorsal petal has linear speckles near RHS Greyed-Purple 183C. Exterior Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 67B. Fading: Interior Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N57C. Dorsal petal has linear speckles near RHS Red-Purple 59A. Exterior Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73A. Sepal/calyx: Quantity.—5, highly reduced. Margin.—Entire. Shape.—Narrowly deltate. Length.—0.2 cm. Width.—0.3 cm. Apex.—Rounded. Base.—Fused. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—Inner Surface: RHS Green 143C. Outer Surface: RHS Green 143C. Peduncles: Length.—2 cm. Diameter.—0.8 cm. Angle.—Vertical. Strength.—Strong attachment to terminal shoot. Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Texture.—Glabrous. Pedicel: Length.—3 cm. Width.—0.2 cm. Angle.—45-70° from peduncle. Strength.—Moderately strong. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.—10. Length.—Approximately 2.2 cm. Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm. Anthers: Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm. Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175A. Pollen.—Some, appears to be sterile. Pistil: Number.—1 per flower. Length.—3.6 cm. Stigma: Shape.—Round. Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 166C. Style length.—3.3 cm. Style color.—Near RHS White 155C. Ovary color.—Near RHS Green 143C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Disease resistance: Field resistance to root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomic. Neither resistance nor susceptibility to other diseases has been observed. Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Rhodendendron has been observed. Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Not measured. Fruit/seed production: Appears to be sterile. No open pollinated seed produced, and crosses in either direction yield no seeds.