<i>Hibiscus </i>plant named ‘SMNHSPCL’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘SMNHSPCL’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and arching plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; large and full semi-double flowers with purple-colored petals and petaloids with purplish red-colored centers and venation; relatively long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘SMNHSPCL’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMNHSPCL’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘SMNHSPCL’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in three-gallon containers during the summer in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following detailed 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: Hibiscus syriacus ‘SMNHSPCL’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwoodone’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,619. Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hibiscus syriacus, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at temperatures about 18° C. to 27° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three months at temperatures about 18° C. to 27C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically tan to brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to outwardly spreading and arching plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, usually about 50 to 75 lateral branches develop per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development. Plant height.—About 88 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 102 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.—About 60 cm. Diameter.—About 3 mm to 4 mm. Internode length.—About 5 cm to 7 cm. Aspect.—Erect to about 35° from vertical. Strength.—Moderately strong. Texture.—Woody, glabrous. Color.—Close to 197C. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate, simple. Length.—About 6.25 cm. Width.—About 3.75 cm. Shape.—Lobed, roughly rhomboidal. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Lobed; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Coriaceous with distinct venation; mostly glabrous with sparse pubescence along the midvein. Venation pattern.—Palmate. Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation, close to 138B. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145C. Petioles.—Length: About 1.25 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper surface: Pubescent. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to N144C. Flower description: Flower appearance and arrangement.—Relatively large semi-double rotate flowers; flowers mostly terminal; freely flowering habit with usually about 50 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly. Flower longevity.—Flowers last several days on the plant; flowers not persistent. Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower continuously during the summer in Michigan. Flower diameter.—About 9 cm. Flower length (height).—About 4.5 cm. Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to N81B. Petals.—Arrangement and quantity: Single whorl of six petals; petals imbricate. Length: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny, delicate. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 84A; towards the base, close to 61B; venation, close to 84A and 61B; color does not change with development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N82C; towards the margins, close to NN155D; towards the base, close to 61B to 61C; venation, close to N82C, NN155D, 61B and 61C; color does not change with development. Petaloids.—Arrangement and quantity: About 50 massed in the center of the flower giving a ruffled appearance; petaloids imbricate. Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 4 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny, delicate. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N75B; towards the base, close to NN155D; venation, close to N75B, 61B and NN155D; color does not change with development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to a mixture of 76D and NN155D; venation, close to 76D and NN155D; color does not change with development. Calyx.—Arrangement and quantity: Single whorl of four or five sepals fused into a tubular calyx. Sepal length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 8 mm. Sepal shape: Deltoid. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper surface: Rough, glabrous. Sepal texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Epicalyx.—Arrangement and quantity: Single whorl of six to eight sepals fused into a tubular epicalyx. Sepal length: About 1.3 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Acicular. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper surface: Rough, glabrous. Sepal texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 144B. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 141B. Peduncles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect: About 45° from stein axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to N144D. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per flower: About 16. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther shape: Round. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 157D. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 157D. Gynoecium: Quantity of pistils per flower: Six. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style color: Close to 157D. Stigma appearance: Peltate. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to have excellent garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, drought and temperatures ranging from about −32° C. to about 36° C. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hibiscus have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus plants.