Leucadendron plant named ‘Hawaii Sunrise’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Leucadendron plant named Hawaii Sunrise that is distinguished by a very compact bushy plant habit with densely packed foliage and many current-season branches which are bright red in color and which bear terminal inflorescences whose bracts are yellow in color with contrasting bright orange-red coloration to their apex and margin. Hawaii Sunrise bears only male flowers which are bright yellow in color.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucadendron plant named Hawaii Sunrise as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate the distinguishing traits of the new Leucadendron cultivar Hawaii Sunrise. All plants in the drawings have received one pinch after initial cutting establishment. The plants have been grown without any chemical growth regulators. The drawings were made from digital photographic images. Although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventional or digital photography.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a three-year old plant of Hawaii Sunrise in late March. The plant has been grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. At this time of year, the foliage color of Hawaii Sunrise is olive green becoming deep purple towards and at the terminal growth.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a close up view of the terminal shoot growth of Hawaii Sunrise, and newly-emerged male flowers in mid-late March.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(4) The following is a detailed botanical description of the Leucadendron plant named Hawaii Sunrise. Data was collected from a four year old plant which had been grown outdoors in a 5 gallon container in Oxnard, Calif. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variation in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2007 Edition of The Royal Horticulture Society Colour Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Family.Proteaceae. Genus.Leucadendron. Species.stelligerum x discolor. Variety.Hawaii Sunrise. Parentage: Male parent.Leucadendron discolor (unnamed, unpatented). Female parent.Leucadendron stelligerum (unnamed, unpatented). Plant description: Propagation method.Semi-ripe tip cuttings. Rooting system.Fine and fibrous. Vigor.Moderate. Time to develop roots.4 to 6 weeks are needed for a cutting to develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20 to 22 Centigrade. Crop time.Two years are required to produce a full and branched 2-gallon container plant. Use.Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container plant. Type.Perennial in USDA Hardiness Zone 8 and higher. Overall dimensions (four year old plant in 5 gallon container).65 cm in height and 65 cm in width. Cultural requirements.Grow in full sun with moderate water, and well-draining soil. Hardiness.USDA Zone 8. Growth habit.Freely branching bush. Blooming season.Male flowers only are produced with first buds appearing in late January and fully developed flowers by late March. Lastingness of blooms.4 weeks. Stem (below first pinch): Length.8 cm. Diameter.3 cm to 4 cm. Color.N200C. Shape.Coarsely cylindrical. Texture.Lignified, rough with raised (1.5 mm) ovate lenticels, 3 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, smooth, color 166B. Branches (above first pinch): Quantity.5 to 6 branches. Branch length.40 cm to 55 cm. Internode length.6 mm to 8 mm. Branch stem diameter.6 mm to 8 mm. Branch stem shape.Cylindrical. Branch stem color.166B, with paper-like peeling bark, color 156D. Branches (current year's extension growth): Quantity.8 to 12 current year branches produced on previous year's wood. Branch length.10 cm to 15 cm. Internode length.6 mm. Branch stem diameter.3 mm. Branch stem shape.Cylindrical. Branch stem color.Initially 151D becoming 46A. Leaves: Type.Simple. Arrangement.Slightly offset opposite pairs. Offset distance 2 mm to 3 mm. Distance between pairs (internode distance) 6 mm. Attachment.Sessile. Quantity per branch.7 to 9 pairs. Shape.Oblanceolate. Length.30 mm to 35 mm. Width.10 mm. Margin.Smooth, entire. Thickness.Slightly fleshy. Venation.Pinnate but very faint, color as leaf. Surface texture.Smooth, leathery. Color.137C except apex and adjacent margin 180A. Apex and margin coloration increases in direct sun and in dry conditions. Apex.Acute. Base.Cuneate. Fragrance.Absent. Peduncle: Length.4 mm to 5 mm. Shape.Cylindrical. Diameter.3 mm. Texture.Smooth, semi-glossy. Color.8B with longitudinal streaks 61B. Inflorescence and flowers: Inflorescence rarely produced until second or third growing season. Inflorescence type.Terminal, consisting of dense cluster of male flowers. Inflorescence shape.Obconical, rounded at apex, flattened at base. Inflorescence dimensions.Height 2 cm, diameter 1 cm. Flowers.Quantity: Between 600 and 700 solitary flowers per inflorescence. Arrangement: Solitary flowers, tightly packed in cross-diagonal rows, borne on very short pedicels. Pedicel dimensions: 3 mm in length, approximately 0.75 mm in diameter. Pedicel color: 17B. Development of Flowers: Flowers first open at base of inflorescence. Final flowers open at apex of inflorescence approximately one week later. Fragrance: Absent. Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent. Flower longevity on the plant: Less than one day in color, two to three weeks while persistent. Flower color: 17B. Flower basal bracts: 12 to 16 in number, irregularly deltoid, 2.5 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, color dark purple to black, between 187A and N186A. Buds: Number of buds per inflorescence.Between 600 and 700. Shape.Tetragonal. Dimensions.0.5 mm to 0.75 mm in height and width. Color.17B. Petals: Number, arrangement.Four, fused at base. Shape.Oblanceolate. Margin.Smooth. Base.Cuneate. Apex.Acute. Dimensions.2 mm in length, 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm in width. Texture (both surfaces).Smooth, glabrous. Color (both surfaces).17B. Involucral bracts: Arrangement, number.Double whorl consisting of 4 lower bracts and 4 immediately adjacent upper bracts. Occasional single malformed bracts between inflorescence and upper whorl. Bract shape.Oblanceolate. Bract dimensions (upper whorl).30 mm in length, 7 mm in width. Bract dimensions (lower whorl).35 mm in length, 10 mm in width. Margin.Smooth, entire. Base.Truncate. Apex.Acute. Texture.Smooth, leathery. Bract color (both surfaces).Ranges between cream 18D (upper whorl) and cream-green 154D (closest match, lower whorl). All bracts colored bright orange-red 33A at apex and apex-adjacent margin, often extending up to 2 mm to 4 mm inward from the margin. Reproductive organs and seed: None observed. Drought tolerance: Drought tolerant. Diseases and pests: Hawaii Sunrise has not been found susceptible or resistant to any particular horticultural pests or diseases.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

(5) Hawaii Sunrise differs from the male parent Leucadendron discolor by foliage and stem color and by overall size. Whereas Hawaii Sunrise exhibits bright red stems and leaf colors which range from green to plum, the male parent Leucadendron discolor bears green leaves on green stems. In addition, whereas Hawaii Sunrise grows to 65 cm in height and 65 cm in width, the male parent Leucadendron discolor grows to 2 m to 2.5 m in height and 1.5 m in width.

(6) Hawaii Sunrise differs from the female parent Leucadendron stelligerum by foliage color and plant size. Whereas Hawaii Sunrise bears green foliage, the leaves of the female parent Leucadendron stelligerum are yellow and red in color. In addition, whereas Hawaii Sunrise grows to 65 cm in height and 65 cm in width, the female parent Leucadendron stelligerum grows to 1.5 m in height and 1 m in width.

(7) Hawaii Sunrise may also be compared with the inventor's variety of Leucadendron Plant Named Hawaii Magic (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,636). Whereas Hawaii Magic exhibits dramatic foliage color changes during the season, from green to orange-red to plum, plants of Hawaii Sunrise exhibit green foliage with many more current year branches and therefore terminal inflorescences.