<i>Phlox </i>plant named ‘Balsukalav’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named Balsukalav, characterized by its deep red-purple colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named Balsukalav, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of Balsukalav. The plants were approximately five months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 12 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of Balsukalav.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of Balsukalav.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

(5) The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2020 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately five-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 12 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an average high of 69.3 F. (20.7 C.) to an average low of 63.6 F. (17.6 C.), and supplemental lighting was provided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata Balsukalav. Parentage: Female parent.Proprietary Phlox paniculata breeding selection coded PHL-791, not patented. Male parent.Unknown. Propagation: Type cutting.Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 10 to 12 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.Approximately 42 to 49 days. Root description.Fine to medium thickness, medium density. Rooting habit.Freely branching, medium density. Plant description: Commercial crop time.Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot. Growth habit and general appearance.Herbaceous perennial, vigorous, upright growth habit. Hardiness.USDA Zone 4b (20 F. to 25 F./28.9 C. to 31.7 C.). Size.Height: Approximately 24.0 cm. Width: Approximately 38.0 cm. Branching habit.Freely branching, pinching will improve branching. Branch.Quantity: Approximately 9 main branches. Shape: Round. Strength: Strong. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 10.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stems: 146B. Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming woody 199B to 199D with age. Foliage description: General description.Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 16. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite, decussate. Leaves.Shape: Elliptic, slightly carinate. Margin: Entire, minutely ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately 8.5 cm. Width: Approximately 3.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 146D. Color of lower surface of young foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to but darker than NN137A with venation of 146D. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146D. Petioles.Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D. Flowering description: Flowering habit.Balsukalav is a long day obligate and is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from late spring throughout summer. Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.Approximately 10 days. Inflorescence description: General description.Type: Compound terminal panicle, flowers face upright and outwardly, self-cleaning. Quantity per plant: Approximately 7. Fragrance: Moderately sweet and pleasant. Height of primary: Approximately 9.5 cm. Width of primary: Approximately 14.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per primary inflorescence: Approximately 26. Height of secondary: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of secondary: 4.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per secondary inflorescence: Approximately 1. Peduncle.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of axillary: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter of axillary: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146B. Flower description: Type.Single. Bud.Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Bud just before opening.Shape: Oblanceolate. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: Calyx of 146D with a central stripe of N186A and petal portion of N81A to N81C. Corolla.Shape: Salverform. Diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 3.2 cm. Petals.Quantity: 5 in a single whorl, base fused into a narrow tube. Lobe shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse to slightly notched. Lobe length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Lobe width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: N78B with NN78B, 67A at orifice. Color of lower surface when first open: N80D with NN78C. Color of upper surface when fully open: N78B to N78C tinted with N80B to N80C, 67A at orifice. Color of lower surface when fully open: N80D with N78C. Corolla tube.Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of inner surface: Smooth, glabrous with lower 5.0 mm densely pubescent. Color of inner surface: N81B with 145D at base. Color of outer surface: N78A to N78B, 145D at base. Calyx.Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Sepals.Quantity per flower: 5, lower half fused. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of inner surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color of inner surface: 146C with tip of N186A. Color of outer surface: 146D with tip and central streak of N186A. Pedicel.Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary acute angle to peduncle. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146C typically tinted with N187A. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Filament length of free portion: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Sagittate. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 158B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145D. Style length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Style color: Lighter than 145D and faintly tinted with N186A near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Increased resistance to powdery mildew has been observed.