<i>Cuphea </i>plant named ‘CUPP1752’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Cuphea named CUPP1752 that is characterized by prolifically self-branching dense and compact plant habit, dark green leaves with contrasting pale grey-green venation, and multicolored white, blushed-orange, scarlet and violet tubular flowers which are borne in profusion, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Cuphea plant named CUPP1752 as described and illustrated herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cuphea variety named CUPP1752 showing the color as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual color of the new variety CUPP1752. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 have been made by clear-cutting of a photograph taken in October 2019 of a plant growing in an unheated greenhouse in Oxnard Calif.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plant of CUPP1752 growing in a 1-gallon container.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a flowering stem of CUPP1752.

(4) FIG. 3 shows CUPP1752 on the left alongside the comparison variety Cuphea Firecracker (unpatented) on the right. The scale in the drawing is a scale in inches. The drawing was made from plants growing at the inventor's nursery in Kulnura, New South Wales, Australia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(5) The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Cuphea cultivar named CUPP1752. Observations and measurements were collected in Santa Barbara, Calif., from 9-month-old plants grown out of doors. Color determinations are made in accordance with the Fifth Edition (2007) of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Family.Lythraceae. Genus.Cuphea. Species.Hybrida. Denomination.CUPP1752. Common name.Cigar plant. Parentage: Cuphea hybrida CUPP1752 is a hybrid resulting from the open-pollination of seedlings of the species Cuphea ignea. Plant: Habit.Dense, compact, mounding. Commercial category.Ornamental. Use.For garden and landscape. Suggested commercial container size.1-gallon container. Propagation method.Vegetative cuttings. Rooting system.Fine. Vigor.Highly vigorous and naturally self-branching. Crop time.4 months to produce a 1-gallon container from taking an initial cutting. Plant dimensions.After 15 weeks from planting a rooted cutting into a 1 gallon container, CUPP1752 achieves a height of 20 cm and a spread of 30 cm. When fully established in the landscape, CUPP1752 achieves a height of 50 cm and a spread of 50 cm to 60 cm in width. Cultural requirements.Grow in full sun to part shade. Pest or disease resistance.None known to the inventor. Pest or disease susceptibility.None known to the inventor. Hardiness.USDA Zone 10. Special considerations.Blooms continually throughout the year in USDA Zone 10. Stem (main stem, primary branches, secondary branches): Main stem (below first pinch at 5 cm).Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 5 cm in length, 0.5 cm in diameter at soil level. Surface: Rough. Color between N199B and N200A. Primary branches.Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 15 cm to 20 cm in length, 2 mm to 3 mm in diameter. Internode distance: 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm. Surface: Lightly pubescent becoming smooth, glabrous with age. Color: Ranges between 144C and N144D. Secondary branches.Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 3 cm in length, 1.5 mm in diameter. Internode distance: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Surface: Lightly pubescent becoming smooth, glabrous with age. Color: Ranges between 144C and N144D. Branch quantity: Very numerous, approximately 50 primary and secondary branches. Foliage: Type.Evergreen. Leaf arrangement.Opposite. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf margin.Entire, ciliate. Very fine silver-grey hairs, less than 0.5 mm in length. Leaf surface (abaxial and adaxial).Glabrous. Leaf shape.Lanceolate. Leaf length.2.5 cm. Leaf width.1.5 cm. Leaf color (adaxial surface).139A. Leaf color (abaxial surface).138B. Leaf apex.Acute. Leaf base.Attenuate. Venation.Pinnate. Vein color (adaxial surface).194D, midrib prominent and contrasting. Vein color (abaxial surface).139A, slightly raised. Attachment.Petiolate. Petiole shape.Cylindrical. Petiole surface.Puberulent. Petiole color.Ranges between 144C and N144D. Petiole dimensions.1.0 mm to 1.5 mm length, 1 mm. in width. Leaf fragrance.None observed. Inflorescence: Inflorescence (axillary and terminal).Solitary flower. Inflorescence structure.Modified calyx whose six sepals are completely fused into a floral tube. Petals absent or present as tiny ear-like appendages attached at apex of floral tube. Inflorescence shape.Narrow tubular, widening towards apex. Tube terminates at base with globular nectar sac. Inflorescence aspect.Downward, approximately 45 degrees below the horizontal. Inflorescence quantity.Very numerous, typically 10 to 15 flowers per stem, approximately 300 flowers per plant at any one time. Blooming season.Year round if frost-free and unshaded. Inflorescence dimensions.2.5 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter at base, 5 mm in diameter at apex. Inflorescence color (mature flowers, adaxial surface).Nectar sac and approximately one-third of entire tube length from base: NN155D to NN155B. Midpoint of the tube, extending to just below and at the flared apex: 35B to 50B. Flared apex: 42A, 59A, 11A and 11D are all individually present. Inflorescence color (mature flowers, abaxial surface).11D. Inflorescence surface.Glabrous. Inflorescence apex.Flared, with up to six outward-facing tiny petal appendages. Peduncle color.178D, except 144C towards stem. Peduncle dimensions.8 m to 11 mm in length, 1 mm. in diameter. Peduncle shape.Cylindrical. Peduncle surface.Pubescent. Petals.Typically six in number, occasionally for or five. Petal attachment.At rim of apex, located at each fused sepal junction, outward-facing. Petal dimensions.2 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, apex rounded, margins entire, surface glabrous. Petal color (both surfaces).140A. Inflorescence persistence.Self-cleaning. Inflorescence fragrance.None observed. Lastingness of inflorescence (range).3 to 5 days. Reproductive organs: Stamens.Quantity: 10 adnate to floral tube. Length: Ranges between 3 mm (stamens entirely inside floral tube) and 11 mm (stamens strongly exerted above floral tube apex). Diameter: 1 mm. Color: N92A or darker towards 203C. Anthers: Ovoid, dorsifixed, 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width, color as stamens, N92A to 203C. Pollen: None observed. Pistil quantity.1. Pistil dimensions.2.5 cm in length, 1 mm in diameter. Pistil color.54A becoming 203C towards and immediately beneath stigma. Stigma.Miniscule, hemispherical, diameter very slightly greater than diameter of pistil at attachment. Stigma color.54A. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape: Ovoid. Ovary dimensions: 1.5 mm in height, 2 mm in diameter. Ovary color (observed immature): 145B.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

(6) CUPP1752 is distinguishable from its parents and in general from the species Cuphea ignea, by flower color, by the color of the young stems and by the color of the leaves. Whereas CUPP1752 bears flowers whose flower tube is white at the base, becoming blushed orange towards the apex, the flower tubes of the parents, the species and other known varieties are predominantly orange-red in color. The young stems of CUPP1752 are green in color, whereas the young stems of the parents and the species are grey-red in color. The leaves of CUPP1752 are dark green in color, whereas the leaves of the parents and the species are mid-green in color.

(7) The variety of Cuphea which the inventor considers most closely to resemble CUPP1752 is an old variety of Cuphea known in Australia as Cuphea Firecracker (unpatented). This variety is not the same variety as a Cuphea plant also named Firecracker (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,595). The comparison variety Firecracker (unpatented) exhibits a similar very compact habit (30 cm in width after one year) to CUPP1752 but differs by flower color and the color of the young stems and the foliage. Whereas CUPP1752 bears flowers whose flower tube is white at the base, becoming blushed orange towards the apex, the flower tubes of Firecracker (unpatented) are predominantly orange-red in color. The young stems of CUPP1752 are green in color, whereas the young stems of Firecracker (unpatented) are grey- red in color. The leaves of CUPP1752 are dark green in color, whereas the leaves of Firecracker (unpatented) are mid-green in color.