Lavandula plant named ‘FW Radiance’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named FW Radiance, characterized by its compact and broadly upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; light purple-colored flowers with medium to large red purple-colored sterile flower bracts arranged on short terminal spikes; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named FW Radiance as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of FW Radiance grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of FW Radiance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detailed description were grown in 1.5-liter containers during the late spring in an outdoor nursery in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants were pinched two times and were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10 C. to 40 C. and night temperatures ranged from 1 C. to 20 C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms Of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas pedunculata FW Radiance. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Lavandula stoechas pedunculata Papillon not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.Lavandula stoechas pedunculata Strawberry Ruffles, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,490. Propagation: Type.Terminal softwood vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About ten days at temperatures about 24 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About twelve days at temperatures about 21 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 24 to 28 days at temperatures ranging from 23 C. to 26 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.About 35 to 40 days at temperatures ranging from 15 C. to 18 C. Root description.Fine, fibrous; typically white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation. Rooting habit.Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Herbaceous perennial; compact and broadly upright plant habit; roughly globular to broadly ovate in overall shape; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; flowers arranged in verticillasters on terminal spikes. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.About 16.3 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.About 22.6 cm. Plant width.About 21.3 cm. Lateral branch description.Quantity per plant: About nine primary lateral branches each with about ten secondary branches developing per plant during the flowering season. Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Upright to somewhat outwardly. Texture and luster: Densely tomentose; slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144B to 144C; at the internodes, between 143C and 144B. Color, developed: Close to 199B and 199C. Leaf description.Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile. Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly to moderately revolute. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic, pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B to NN137C; venation, close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 138B. Flower description: Flower type, arrangement and habit.Small single salverform flowers arranged in verticillasters on terminal cylindrical spikes; freely flowering habit with about 60 to 100 flowers developing in four to twelve whorls per inflorescence and about 50 inflorescences developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the spike. Natural flowering season.Relatively long flowering period; continuous from late winter to late spring in Australia. Flower longevity on the plant.Individual flowers last about one to two months on the plant; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.Resinous. Flower buds.Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: Close to 143A to 143B. Inflorescence height.About 2.7 cm, excluding terminal bracts. Inflorescence diameter.About 1.5 cm, excluding terminal bracts. Flower diameter.About 3.4 mm. Flower depth (height).About 6 mm, including tube. Flower tube length.About 4 mm. Flower tube diameter.About 1 mm. Petals.Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper and lower lips: About 2.8 mm. Width, upper and lower lips: About 2 mm. Shape, upper lip: Obovate. Shape, lower lip: Ovate. Apex, upper and lower lips: Obtuse, rounded. Margin, upper and lower lips: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper (inner) surface, upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower (outer) surface, upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower lips: When opening, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to N78A. Fully opened, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 72B; color becoming closer to N80A with development. Basal flower bracts.Quantity and arrangement: Each group of flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C. Sterile flower bracts.Quantity and arrangement: About four to eight sterile flower bracts at apex of spike. Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 72B; main vein, darker than 72B; with development, color becoming closer to 70B. Sepals.Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a campanulate tube. Calyx length: About 7 mm. Calyx diameter: About 2.2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Color, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 143A. Peduncles.Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm. Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144B to 144C. Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther color: Greyish white Pollen amount: If present, scarce. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Dark purple to almost black. Ovary color: Close to 143A to 143B. Seeds and fruits.To date, seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the new Lavandula. Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have been observed to be somewhat resistant to Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) and to date have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Lavandula plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind and temperatures ranging from 2 C. to 42 C.