<i>Cephalanthus </i>plant named ‘SMCBM’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Cephalanthus plant named ‘SMCBM’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit; glossy green-colored leaves becoming dark red in the autumn; spherical head-type inflorescences with numerous white-colored flowers; attractive medium red-colored fruits; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Cephalanthus plant named ‘SMCBM’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cephalanthus 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 Cephalanthus plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMCBM’.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical developing and developed inflorescences and leaves of ‘SMCBM’.

(4) The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMCBM’ with mature fruits.

(5) The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4) is a close-up view of typical developed fruits and leaves of ‘SMCBM’.

(6) Plants used for the photographs were grown during the mid to late summer in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. Plants were about four years old when the photographs were taken.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(7) The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in three-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants were about three years old when the description was taken. In the 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: Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCBM’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Sugar Shack’, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Cephalanthus occidentalis, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one month at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 27° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight months at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 27° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness; fibrous; typically white 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.—Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about nine primary lateral branches developing per plant. Plant height.—About 57 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 53 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.—About 30 cm. Diameter.—About 3 mm. Internode length.—About 5 cm. Strength.—Moderately strong. Aspect.—Erect to about 45° from vertical. Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing.—Close to 144D becoming closer to 180B. Color, fully developed.—Close to 201D. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Opposite, simple. Length.—About 11 cm. Width.—About 5.5 cm. Shape.—Elliptic. Apex.—Cuspidate. Base.—Attenuate. Margin.—Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly rough with sparse pubescent along veins; slightly glossy. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; in the autumn, close to N144A to N144C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; in the autumn, close to 151A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 151A; in the autumn, close to 183B and 187A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 145D; in the autumn, close to 151D and 183C. Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Flower description: Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single sessile tubular flowers arranged on dense terminal head-type inflorescences; heads spherical in shape; freely flowering habit with more than 100 flowers per inflorescence and more than 10,000 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers face all directions depending on position on the head. Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the summer in Michigan; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; sweet and earthy. Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.5 cm. Flower diameter.—About 3 mm. Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm. Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Tube, close to NN155B; at the apex, close to 167B. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four petals fused in a single fine tubular whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A; color becoming closer to 180A with development. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, about four or five in a single whorl. Length: About 0.5 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 45° from the stem axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B variably tinged with close to 168B. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About four. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Globular. Anther color: Close to 200A. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 8A. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma appearance: Globular. Stigma color: Close to 200D. Fruits.—Height: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Hard, spherical. Color: Close to 179A. Garden performance: Plants of the new Cephalanthus have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −32° C. to about 36° C. Pathogen & pest tolerance: To date, plants of the new Cephalanthus have not been observed to be tolerant to pathogens and pests common to Cephalanthus plants.