<i>Hibiscus </i>plant named ‘RutHib4’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘RutHib4’ is characterized by a combination of compact, dense growth form, that is smaller than either parent, bright red flowers with a darker red eyespot, better adaptation to southern climates, and improved disease resistance to aerial phytophthora, fungal and bacterial leaf spots.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Hibiscus plant named ‘RutHib4’ as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’ showing the colors as true as possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of the new Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’. The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in West Grove, Pa. on during Summer 2020.

(2) The photographs labeled FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict close up views of a typical flower of the new Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’ plant in different lighting, showing the bright red coloring, deep red eyespot and green foliage.

(3) The photograph labeled FIG. 2 depicts a more distant view of a typical three-year-old summer ‘RutHib4’ plant growing alongside other Hibiscus plants of different form and color, illustrating the bright red coloring and compact form of the ‘RutHib4’ cultivar.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of a typical (2-year-old) Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’ potted plant showing its form and bright red flowers.

(5) FIG. 4 is a close-up photograph of a flower and leaf of the “RutHib4’ photograph with a ruler to show the size and coloring of a typical flower and leaf of the new Hibiscus.

(6) The photograph labeled FIG. 5 depicts a typical Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’ prior to bloom, showing buds and the deep purple-green foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(7) The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown from vegetative cuttings in Watkinsville, Ga., and West Grove, Pa., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety ‘RutHib4’.

(8) Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 6.sup.th edition published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

(9) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the Hibiscus moscheutos cultivar named ‘RutHib4’. Data were collected from 2-year old field plants grown outdoors and planted in the ground on a horticulture farm and nursery in West Grove, Pa. with no trims. The average low temperatures ranged from about 0° F. to 5° F. in the winter and about 48° F. to 84° F. in summer. The data below were collected in the month of August of 2020. Botanical classification: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’. Commercial classification: Ornamental shrub. Parentage: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,853) x Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Midnight Marvel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,079). Growth and propagation: Propagation type.—Vegetative terminal cutting. Growth rate.—Root initiation — 2 weeks, rooted liners in 4-6 weeks before or after flowering. Root description.—Fleshy, branching and dense. Plant description: Form.—Hardy herbaceous shrub, vibrant red flowers, blooms from July to November in Southeastern, PA and from mid-June until October in Georgia. Habit.—Upright, spreading, mounding, with 10 to 12 thick upright and heavily branched main stems producing a upright spreading mound to about 104 cm tall and about 132.3 cm wide, widest about 64 cm above soil line; 12 to 16 primary branches per main stem protruding at about 80° from horizontal for lowest branches to about 45° angle from horizontal for distal branches, flowering from base to top of plant with about 20 to 28 flowers per main stem. Usage.—Various uses, such as container patio plants, potted plants, landscape use such as border, hedge, and mass planting. Vigor.—Moderate. Size of plant.—A. Height: up to about 104 cm in PA (planted in ground in GA on May 26, 2021 with a height of about 50 cm, as compared to the height of ‘RutHib2’ in GA of about 75 cm and ‘Midnight Marvel’ or ‘Mars Madness’, which did not survive in GA). B. Plant diameter and area of spread (diameter of the canopy): up to about 132 cm in PA (planted in ground in GA on May 26, 2021 with a width of about 75 cm, as compared to the width of RutHib2 in GA of about 110 cm and ‘Midnight Marvel’ or ‘Mars Madness’, which did not survive in GA). Stem.—A. Color (RHS): 1. Main Stem: Base: greyed-red 182B; distal portion: between RHS 183A and RHS 187C. 2. Lateral Branches: Between RHS 176A and RHS 144C. B. Length: main stem, about 102.0-104 cm; lateral branches, about 31.2 cm. C. Diameter: base, about 3.8 cm; lateral branches, about 5.0 mm. D. Pubescence: none; glabrous. E. Shape: Terete. F: Odor (of bruised stem): none detected. G: Description: glaucous. H: Strength: non-lodging. Internode.—A. Number: about 30 nodes per stem below flowers, average internode length about 4.0 cm of unpinched plant below flower and average about 2.0 cm in upper flowering section without branches, largest in middle portion of stem. B. Color: Varying with light exposure, same as surrounding stem. Leaf.—A. Mature size (L×W): About 14.0 cm×about 9.5 cm, becoming smaller distally. B. Arrangement on stem: alternate. C. Leaf number: single. D. Color (RHS): Adaxial color nearest to Yellow-Green147A with purple spots of nearest RHS 187A showing; abaxial color nearest RHS 147B. 1. Fall-Winter: fall color if present Greyed-Orange 167B, deciduous. 2. Spring-Summer: as per above. E. Apex: attenuate; Base: rounded. F. Margin: dentate. G. Shape: deeply cleft to slightly lobed; lobing is shallow to medium. H. Number of lobes: mostly three-lobed with some five-lobed. I. Pubescence: glaucous. J. Venation: Palmate; lustrous; ridged on abaxial. K. Vein color: Adaxial proximally nearest RHS Greyed-Red 187B and progressing to nearest RHS 187A distally; abaxial nearest RHS 186B. L. Texture: glabrous, lustrous adaxial center, dull adaxial sides and below. M. Odor when crushed: none detected. Petiole.—A. Length: about 6.5 cm to about 7.5 cm. B. Shape: mostly terete, slightly flattened at base. C. Color (RHS): Adaxial between RHS Greyed-Red 183B and RHS Red-Purple 59A; abaxial between RHS 182B. D. Pubescence: glaucous. E. Diameter: about 4.0 mm-5.0 mm. F. Texture: glabrous. Inflorescence(s).—A. Type: Solitary. B. Number per Plant: about 10 average/plant at one time; C. Size (L×W): about 12 cm×12 cm. D. Color (RHS): 184A. E. Longevity: 1-2 days. F. Peduncle. 1. Length: about 3.5 cm. 2. Diameter: about 4.0 cm. 3. Color (RHS): 145A. 4. Surface Texture: smooth. 5. Strength: strong. 6. Aspect: about 30 degrees. Flower.—A. Number per Inflorescence: about 3-5 per stem in a cluster. B. Axillary or Terminal: axillary, single. C. Symmetry: radial. D. Size: height, about 7.0 cm; diameter, about 23.0 cm. E. Pubescence/Texture: glabrous. F. Flower form/profile: form is large, whirled, and conspicuous; profile is large and flat with protruding reproductive parts. G. Color at peak bloom (RHS): 1. Upper surface: Red 184A with 187B eye. 2. Lower surface: 184A. H. Fragrance: none detected. I. Duration: approximately 2 days on the plant. J. Time range for showiness: blooms from July to November in Southeastern, PA and from mid-June until October in Georgia. K. Bud: 1. Color (RHS): 185A when opening. 2. Shape: ovoid. 3. Length: about 5.5 cm. 4. Width: about 3.3 cm. L. Petals: 1. Number: 5. 2. Shape: Broadly obovate, overlapping on either side, palmately veined. 3. Size (l×w): about 12.0 cm×about 12 cm. 4. Apex: rounded, rippled. 5. Base: cuneate. 6. Margin: entire with moderate undulation. 7. Color at when first and fully opened (RHS): i. Upper surface: 184A with 187B eye. ii. Under surface: 184A. 8. Petal drop: Average. 9. Texture: smooth. 10. Arrangement: radial, actinomorphic. 11. Eye zone: present, about 2 cm in length (about ⅕-⅙ length of petal), small to medium compared to other varieties. 12. Eye zone extensions: absent. M. Epicalyx: 1. Margin: entire. 2. Texture: glabrous, dull surface abaxial and adaxial; 3. Shape: linear with sharply acute apex and attenuate base, arcuate upwards near calyx. 4. Number: 10-12 per flower. 5. Size: about 2.5 cm long tapering to base of about 3.0 mm wide. 6. Color: adaxial and abaxial color RHS 138A with abaxial tinting of nearest RHS 187C. N. Sepal(s): 1. Number: 5. 2. Size (l×w): about 3.5 cm×about 2.0 cm. 3. Apex: acute to aristate. 4. Base: fused to a cup shape in about 1.5 cm. 5. Margin: entire. 6. Texture: under surface puberulent. 7. Color at peak of bloom (RHS): a. Upper surface: 145A. b. Lower surfaces: 144B. O. Male reproductive structures (stamens): 1. Number: Approximately 180. 2. Staminal column length: 50-70 mm. 3. Anther: a. Size (l×w): about 2.0 mm×about 2.0 mm. b. Shape: reniform, dorsifixed. c. Color (RHS): 162B. d. Number: About 180. e. Texture/pubescence: smooth. 4. Filament: a. length: about 5.0 mm. b. Color (RHS): 51A. c. Texture: smooth. 5. Pollen: a. Quantity: numerous. b. Pollen color (RHS): 11B. P. Female Reproductive structures: 1. Pistil: a. Shape: enclosed in staminal column. b. Length: 5.5 cm. c. Position (superior, inferior, etc.): superior. d. Color (RHS): column 61C to 60B at the end tip. e. Pubescence: none. f. Arrangement: split in distal about 1.8 cm portion into 5 branches from column. g. Branch diameter: about 1.5 mm. 2. Stigma: a. Shape: round. b. Color (RHS): 53A. c. Diameter: about 4.0 mm. d. Pubescence: none. 3. Style: a. Length: 1.8 cm. b. Shape: interior to staminal column. c. Color (RHS): 53B. d. Pubescence: none. 4. Ovary: a. Shape: conical. b. Color (RHS): 187B. c. Pubescence: none. Fruit.—A. Type: Loculicidal capsule; puberulent; globose, with abruptly acute apex. B. Size: 10.0 mm diameter. C. Depth: 1.0 cm. D. Shape: Start/Urn shaped. E. Color: 154 C. F. Surface texture: smooth. Seed.—A. Description: Minutely floccose, typically globose. B. Size: about 4.0 mm in diameter. C. Color (RHS): between 158B and 158C. D. Count: about 50. Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° F. to about 100° F. and have been observed to be very tolerant to full sun, wet soils, mild drought, loam to clay soils conditions. Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to be resistant to plants and pests common to Hibiscus such as, but not limited to, bacterial (Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas) and fungal leaf spots (Alternaria and Cercospora), aerial phytophthora.