<i>Agapanthus </i>plant named ‘Shona’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Agapanthus plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, Shona, is provided which forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive white colored flowers. Attractive, medium green-colored evergreen foliage is formed. The growth habit is moderately vigorous and compact upright-mounded. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Agapanthus plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) substantially continuously forms white colored flowers, (b) displays medium green-colored evergreen foliage, (c) exhibits a moderately vigorous and compact upright-mounded growth habit, (d) produces early blooming, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation; substantially as herein shown 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 a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant and plant parts of the new variety. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of the Shona variety. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 12 months in an outdoor nursery in Arroyo Grande, Calif. In late November, 2017, the plants were transferred to West Grove, Pa. and held under greenhouse conditions to flower.

(2) FIG. 1illustrates a specimen of the plant displaying the overall growth and flowering habitside view.

(3) FIG. 2illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Color Chart), 2015 edition, London, England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The color values were determined in December, 2017 under natural light conditions in West Grove, Pa. The description is based on the observation of plants produced by division of stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at 74 F. to 80 F. (23 C. to 27 C.) during the day and approximately 66 F. to 70 F. (19 C. to 21 C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,100 footcandles to 4,122 footcandles were maintained during the day. Class: Agapanthus Plant. Propagation: Type cutting.Division, perennial bulb. Root description.Thick and fleshy. Rooting habit.Freely branching. Plant: Habit.Moderate growth vigor, upright-mounded, clumps of arching leaves and flowering stalks. Type.Evergreen. Commercial crop time.Approximately 6 to 9 months from a division to finish in a one-gallon container. Cold hardiness.Commonly to USDA Zone 7. Size.Approximately 46.0 cm in height from soil level to top of plant plane on average; approximately 33.0 cm in height from soil level to top of foliage; and approximately 60.0 cm in width on average. Branches: Branching habit.No branching, basal rosettes of leaves. Number of clumps per pot.Approximately 4 on average. Number of rosettes per clump.Approximately 2 or 3 on average. Foliage: Number of leaves.Approximately 10 per rosette on average. Fragrance.None detected. Form.Simple. Arrangement.Opposite. Density.Medium. Leaves: Shape.General: lorate. aspect: emerging leaves erect, then cascade. margin: entire. apex: acute. base: sessile, sheathed. Venation pattern.Parallel. Size.Length of mature leaf: approximately 27.0 cm on average. width of mature leaf: approximately 2.0 cm on average. Texture.Upper and lower surfaces: glabrous. Color.Variegation: absent. upper and lower surfaces of young foliage: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A and venation is commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B. upper surface of mature foliage: commonly near Green Group 136B and venation is commonly near Green Group 136A. lower surface of mature foliage: commonly near Green Group 138A and venation is commonly near Green Group NN137A. Inflorescence: Quantity.Approximately 1 fully open umbel per plant, approximately 1 developing umbel per plant, and approximately 10 fully open flowers per inflorescence. Type.Umbel, self-cleaning; positioned above foliage. Fragrance.None detected. Length or height.Approximately 14.0 cm on average. Width.Approximately 20.0 cm on average. Shape of the lateral view.Circular. Bract.Opening one side. Scape.Strength: strong. aspect: erect to 45 angle. shape in cross-section: cylindrical, pithy center. length: approximately 38.0 cm on average. diameter: approximately 1.0 cm on average. texture: glabrous. color: commonly near Green Group 137C. Peduncle.Length: approximately 35.0 cm on average. diameter: approximately 1.5 cm on average. strength: very strong. color: commonly near Green Group 137C. texture: glabrous. aspect: erect. Flower: Type.Single. Shape.Funnelform, flared. Size.Diameter is approximately 4.4 cm on average and depth is approximately 4.3 cm on average. Rate of opening.Approximately 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Bud just before opening.Shape: obovate. length: approximately 4.3 cm on average. width: approximately 1.2 cm on average. texture: glabrous. color: commonly near NN155C. Tepals.Quantity: commonly 6. appearance: dull. shape: oblanceolate. margin: entire. apex: acute. base: fused. length: approximately 4.3 cm on average. width: approximately 6.0 mm on average. texture of upper and lower surfaces: glabrous. color of upper surface when first and fully open: commonly near White Group NN155C. color of lower surface when first and fully open: commonly near White Group NN155C. tepal-like staminodes and pistillodes: present. Perianth.Length: approximately 3.5 cm on average. diameter: approximately 4.0 cm on average. Perianth tube.Length: approximately 4.3 cm on average. width: approximately 1.2 cm on average. texture: glabrous. color: commonly near White Group NN155C. Pedicles.Strength: strong. aspect: acute angle to horizontal. length: approximately 5.1 cm on average. diameter: approximately 1.0 mm on average. texture: glabrous. color: commonly near Green Group 143A. Reproductive organs.Androecium. quantity: commonly 6 per flower, adnate to corolla tube. extrusions of the stamens: absent. anther: shape is oblong, dorsifixed; length is approximately 2.5 mm on average; and coloration is commonly near Yellow Group 9A. filament: color is commonly near White Group NN155B. pollen: amount is moderate and coloration is commonly near Yellow Group 9A. gynoecium: pistil: commonly 1 per flower and length is approximately 4.3 mm on average. stigma: shape is undifferentiated. style: length is approximately 3.6 cm on average and coloration is commonly near White Group NN155C. ovary: length is approximately 0.7 mm on average and coloration is commonly near Yellow-Green Group 145A. seed and fruit: none have been observed to date. Development: Blooming.Freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through summer. Lastingness of individual flower.Approximately one to two weeks. Tolerance to disease.Is not available at this stage.

(5) The new Shona variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.