<i>Digitalis </i>plant named ‘Balroxose’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant named Balroxose, characterized by its medium purplish-red colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, columnar-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant named Balroxose, 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 may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of Balroxose. The plants were approximately 4.5 months old and grown in 2-gallon containers for approximately 12 weeks in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill.

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

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

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 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 4.5-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. After approximately 10 weeks rooted plants were transplanted into 2-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately 12 weeks. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70 F. to 75 F. (21.1 C. to 23.9 C.) during the day and approximately 60 F. to 65 F. (15.6 C. to 18.3 C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Digitalis hybrid Balroxose. Parentage: Female parent.Proprietary Digitalis purpurea breeding selection coded 948-5, not patented. Male parent.Proprietary Digitalis floribunda breeding selection coded 938-1, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 15 to 20 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.Approximately 42 to 49 days. Root description.Fine, fibrous. Rooting habit.Freely branching. Plant description: Commercial crop time.Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot, vernalization not required. Growth habit and general appearance.Herbaceous perennial, moderately vigorous, columnar-upright. Hardiness.Hardiness. USDA Zone 5a (20 F. to 15 F./28.9 C. to 26 C.). Size.Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 90.0 cm. Width: Approximately 42.0 cm. Branching habit.Freely branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 1 main branch, with approximately 4 basal clumps. Main branch.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 22.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Length of central internode: Approximately 5.0 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of mature stem: 144B to 144A. Foliage description: General description.Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 11. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Rosette at plant base and dextrorse on flowering stems. Leaves.Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Elliptic to narrow elliptic. Margin: Senate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate, cauline leaves sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 13.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Rugous, densely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 146C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 146D and midvein of closest to 145D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: NN137A with venation of 146C. Petiole.Length: Approximately 6.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Closest to 146D. Flowering description: Flowering habit.Balroxose is a long-day facultative, freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions, blooming from April through September. Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.Approximately 10 days. Inflorescence description: General description.Type: Terminal raceme. Aspect: Primarily erect. Quantity per plant: Approximately 12. Fragrance: None. Length or height: Approximately 28.0 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 12. Peduncle.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 19.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144B to 144A. Flower description: Type.Single, campanulate, not persistent. Bud just before opening.Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm. Color: Calyx of 146B, petal portion 144D tinted with 186A at apex. Corolla.Shape: Bilabiate. Aspect: Facing outward and downward. Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.4 cm. Depth: Approximately 3.8 cm. Petals.Quantity: 5 petals fused at base forming a throat and consisting of an upper lip with three lobes and a single-lobed projecting lower lip. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Obtuse, with lateral lobes notched and lower lobe slightly rolled under. Upper lip.Length of upper lobe from throat: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of upper lobe: Approximately 1.6 cm. Length of lateral lobes from throat: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of lateral lobes: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when fully open: 158C with a faint and patchy overlay of 186C. Color of lower (outer) surface when fully open: 186B to 186C. Lower lip.Length of lobe from throat: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when fully open: 158C with an overlay of 186B. Color of lower (outer) surface when fully open: 158C with an overlay of 186C. Corolla tube.Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely pubescent on lower portion (nectar glide). Texture of outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: 158C with a faint and patchy overlay of 186C, spots of 79A forming nectar glide beginning at lower lip. Color of outer surface: 186A and lower portion of 186B to 186C with irregular spots of 158C. Calyx.Shape: Cupped, tips flare out with age. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm. Sepals.Quantity per flower: 5, imbricate. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color of upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: 137A. Pedicel.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, basifixed. Stamen length: Longer pair at approximately 2.6 cm and shorter pair at 1.9 cm. Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament color: 155D. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 154C. Pollen amount: Sparce. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 155D. Style length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Style color: NN155A with a faint overlay of 145D, near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely pubescent. Ovary color: 144C. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Digitalis has not been observed.