<i>Rudbeckia </i>plant named ‘Sweet as Honey’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination of smaller foliage, shorter height and lighter yellow flowers compared to the seed parent.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant named ‘Sweet as Honey’ as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination smaller foliage, shorter height, and yellow flowers compared to the seed parent.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) FIG. 1. A blooming 2 year old plant in July.

(2) FIG. 2. A close up of the flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition. Plants used for the description were grown for two seasons at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Rudbeckia cultivar Sweet as Honey. Parentage: Male or pollen parent an unknown Rudbeckia, female or seed parent an unnamed plant of Rudbeckia missouriensis. Propagation: Vegetative division and stem cutting propagation. Root description: Fibrous, medium thickness, brown in color. Root habit: Moderate branching, moderate density. Plant description: Herbaceous perennial. Overall habit of the new Rudbeckia is a mound shaped clump, with branching stems topped by yellow inflorescences starting in July. Plant height.—55 cm. Plant width.—45 cm. Primary stem diameter.—4 mm. Primary and secondary stem description.—Branching, with 10 or more leaves. Leaves get smaller as they go up the stem. Strength — strong. Primary and lateral stem texture.—Pubescent with hairs up to 1-2 mm long. Secondary stem description.—Average 5 lateral stems per primary stem. Secondary stem length.—25 cm. Secondary stem diameter.—2-3 mm. Secondary stem internodes.—5 cm. Stem color.—Both 144 B and 144 C. Foliage: Type.—Herbaceous. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple, sessile. Basal foliage length.—20 cm Width — 17 mm. Stem foliage length.—7-9 cm Width — 8 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Entire. Texture.—Pubescent, soft. Venation.—Pinnate. Venation Color 145 B. Adaxial leaf description.—Color is 137 C including developing, fully expanded. Abaxial leaf description.—Color is 146 B including developing, fully expanded. Bud: Bud shape.—Oblate. Bud length.—5 mm. Bud diameter.—9 mm. Bud color.—Close to 146 B. Inflorescence: Inflorescence type.—Single, composite on branched flowering stems. Position.—Borne on both terminal and axillary peduncles above the foliage. Number of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 160. Arrangement.—Disc and ray florets. Mature center disc.—15 mm wide and 8 mm height. Number of disc florets.—200, number of ray florets 13. Immature disc floret color.—146 B. Mature disc floret color.—Dark brown but close to 200 A. Disc floret diameter.—1-2 mm at apex, 1 mm at base. Disc floret shape.—Rotate. Disc floret length.—3 mm. Disc floret width — 1 mm. Disc floret apex.—Acute. Disc floret margin.—Entire. Ray floret size.—3 cm length and 8 mm width. Ray floret color upon opening and in full bloom.—Adaxial 14 A and Abaxial 13 C. Ray floret aspect.—Initially incurved, then upright, then perpendicular to the peduncle. Ray floret shape.—Lanceolate. Ray floret apex.—Emarginate. Ray floret base.—Obtuse. Ray floret margin.—Entire. Ray floret count.—Approximately 13 per inflorescence. Ray floret texture.—Both the upper and lower surfaces are smooth, glabrous. Overall inflorescence size.—7 cm or more across in diameter with ray florets, 1 cm in height. Receptacle height — 4-5 mm, diameter 1 cm across. Bloom period and duration.—Mid July through September. 5-7 weeks on the plant. Blooming habit.—Domed, upright on 55 cm terminal flowering stems. Phyllaries: Number of phyllaries per inflorescence.—16 average. Length.—12 mm. Width — 3-4 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Mucronate. Base.—Fused. Margin.—Entire. Texture.—Both upper and lower surface scattered pubescence. Color.—Adaxial 137 B and Abaxial 137 C. Peduncles: Length of both terminal and axillary peduncles.—25 cm. Diameter.—2-3 mm. Angle.—Erect to about 15-20 degrees from vertical. Strength.—Strong, Texture — pubescent, Color — both 144B and 144C. Reproductive organs: Androecium.—Quantity per disc floret, 5. Filament length.—3-4 mm. Filament color 145 C. Anther shape.—Oblong. Anther length — 1 mm. Anther color.—14 A. Pollen amount.—Slight but present. Pollen color.—11 D. Gynoecium present on ray and disc florets.— Pistils.—One, length 3 mm. Stigma shape.—Two parted, Stigma color — 200 A. Style length.—4 mm, Style color — 200 A. Scent.—No scent noticed. Seed and fruit: None observed. Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Rudbeckia has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions. Insect resistance: Resistance to insects common to Rudbeckia has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions. Hardiness: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have been observed to be hardy to USDA Zone 5.