<i>Agapanthus </i>plant named ‘WP003’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Agapanthus, WP003, that is characterized by a medium plant size, inflorescences that form dense umbels of white flowers, an extended flowering season with blooming and re-blooming from early spring to late summer and sporadically in early fall, and a very floriferous blooming period producing an unusually high number of inflorescences.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Agapanthus hybrid plant selection named WP003, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, an exemplary WP003 specimen, approximately 24 months of age, grown at a wholesale nursery in Hartebeespoort, Northwest Province, South Africa under 40 percent shade.

(2) FIG. 2 shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the exemplary umbel of WP003.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

(3) The following observations and measurements made in January of 2018 and, unless otherwise indicated, describe a 24 month old WP003 plant which was grown outdoors in a 25 cm container in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Plants were produced in full sun, using conventional production protocols for Agapanthus which consisted of regular overhead irrigation and controlled-release fertilizer applications. No chemical pest or disease measures were utilized in production.

(4) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. WP003 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

(5) A botanical description of WP003 and comparisons with the parents and closest known commercial variety are provided below. General plant description: Plant habit.Rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with an arching habit. Height.30 cm to the top of the foliar plane and 50 cm to the top of the floral plane. Width.45 cm. Hardiness.USDA Zones 9 through 11. Environmental tolerances.Prefers to be grown in filtered sun. Drought tolerant once established; moderate to good recovery with watering after severe wilting. Tolerates a wide range of soil types from sandy loam to loamy clay. Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.Plants have not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to Agapanthus. Propagation.Propagation is accomplished through division of rhizomes and also meristematic tissue culture. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 3 weeks. Crop time.Depending on latitude of and microclimate of growing location, a fully rooted cutting requires approximately 3 months with an additional 6 to 9 months needed to produce a mature and marketable 25 cm container. Roots: The roots are fibrous and freely-branched, colored white, fleshy, similar to other Agapanthus; high root density. Stem: Branching habit.Acaulescent, rhizomatous plant with shoots emerging from rhizomes with an upright attitude. Basal shoots: Shoots density.4 divisions, or propagules, per nursery pot, with the oldest propagules near the center of the plant's crown possessing 14 to 16 leaves and shoots of varying ages and sizes. Shoot strength.Medium. Cross section.Concave. Shoot color, adaxial surface.Nearest to yellow-green, a mixture of RHS 144A and 144B. Shoot color, abaxial surface.Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Shoot surface texture.Smooth. Foliage: Arrangement.Alternate. Division.Simple. Attachment.Acaulescent. Mature leaf dimensions.40 cm long, 2.5 cm wide at the widest point and 0.2 cm thick. Attitude.Arched. Shape.Linear. Apex.Acute. Base.Sheathed. Cross section.Flat. Margins.Entire. Texture and luster, adaxial surface.Smooth and glossy. Texture and luster, abaxial surface.Smooth and glossy. Pubescence, adaxial surface.Glabrous. Pubescence, abaxial surface.Glabrous. Color.Juvenile foliage, adaxial surfaces Green, RHS 137A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surfaces Green, RHS 137C. Mature foliage, adaxial surfaces Green, RHS 137A. Mature foliage, abaxial surfaces Green, RHS 137C. Venation.Type Parallel. Color, adaxial surfaces Green, RHS 137A. Color, abaxial surfaces Green, RHS 137C. Petiole.Leaves are acaulescent; sessile. Stipules.Absent. Inflorescence: Bloom habit.Recurrent. Bloom period.Early spring to late summer and sporadically in early fall. Inflorescence type.Umbellate. Umbel diameter.Approximately 13 cm wide and 8 cm tall. Number of inflorescences per pot.Up to 4 flowering scapes per plant. Number of flowers per umbel.Approximately 50. Scape.Length 60 cm. Width Elliptical; 0.9 cm by 0.8 cm. Texture Smooth; glabrous. Color Green, RHS 138A. Strength Strong. Buds: Bud shape.Oblanceolate. Bud dimensions.26 mm long and 6 mm wide. Bud color.White, RHS 155A. Bud texture.Glabrous. Flowers: Shape.Funnelform. Arrangement.Rotate. Persistence.Non-persistent. Lastingness.One to two days. Aspect.Upward and outward. Fragrance.Non-fragrant. Pedicels.Dimensions 4.0 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter. Attitude Erect to semi-erect. Texture Smooth. Color Green, RHS 138A. Strength Strong. Perianth.General description Perianth is comprised of six tepals, arranged in a single whorl. Dimensions Approximately 14 mm in diameter and 26 mm deep, from the base of the receptacle. Tepals.Quantity Six basally fused tepals. Shape Oblanceolate. Apex Obtuse. Base Fused. Aspect Concave. Dimensions, free portion of tepals 15 mm long and 6.75 mm wide, as measured. Texture Smooth; glabrous. Margin Entire. Color, when opening Outer tepal White, RHS 155C. Inner tepal White, RHS 155A. Color, when fully open Outer tepal White, RHS 155C. Inner tepal White, RHS 155A. Reproductive organs: Stamens.Quantity Six. Attachment Each is adnate to a corresponding tepal. Filament.Color White, RHS NN155B. Dimensions 23 mm long and approximately 0.6 mm wide. Attachment Dorsifixed. Anther.Shape Oblong. Dimensions 1.85 mm long and 0.6 mm wide. Color Orange-yellow, RHS 163B. Pollen.Abundance Moderately abundant. Color Orange-yellow, RHS 163D. Pistil.Quantity One. Dimensions 18 mm long, from apex of ovary; width is approximately 0.3 mm. Color Violet-Blue RHS 92D at base, becoming Violet-Blue RHS 92C near apex. Stigma.Shape Compact, punctiform. Color Yellow-Green RHS 145C. Diameter 3 mm. Color White, RHS NN155D. Style.Shape Filiform. Dimensions 18 mm long and 0.03 mm wide. Color White, RHS NN155D. Ovary.Shape Oblong. Color Yellow-Green RHS 145C. Dimensions 8 mm long and 2 mm wide. Position Superior. Fruit and seeds: Not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

(6) The new Agapanthus plant WP003 may be distinguished from the seed parent, an unnamed Agapanthus hybrid plant (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 1 below.

(7) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic WP003 Unnamed seed parent. Foliage length. Shorter than the parent. Longer than WP003. Height of Shorter than the parent. Taller than WP003. inflorescence. Floriferousness. More floriferous. Less floriferous. Quantity of flowers More flowers per Fewer flowers per per umbel. umbel. umbel.

(8) The new Agapanthus plant WP003 may be distinguished from the pollen parent, an unnamed Agapanthus hybrid plant (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 2 below.

(9) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic WP003 Unnamed pollen parent. Foliage length. Shorter than the parent. Longer than WP003. Height of Shorter than the parent. Significantly taller than inflorescence. WP003. Floriferousness. More floriferous. Less floriferous. Quantity of flowers Fewer flowers per More flowers per per umbel. umbel. umbel.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR AGAPANTHUS CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

(10) The new Agapanthus plant WP003 may be distinguished from the most similar variety known to the breeder, Agapanthus White Ice (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 3.

(11) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic WP003 White Ice Bloom habit. Good reblooming. Poor reblooming. Floriferousness. More floriferous. Less floriferous. Quantity of flowers More flowers per umbel. Fewer flowers per per umbel. umbel.