Coleus plant named ‘UF15-97-9’

Abstract

UF15-97-9 is a new coleus plant with novel characteristics that include excellent heat tolerance, uniform crimson leaves that are uniquely lance-shaped, and a vigorous and compact upright growth habit with excellent lateral branching. UF15-97-9 also exhibits superior foliage color stability when grown in all conditions, including both sun and shade conditions, and exhibits long-season performance until late fall.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Plectranthus scutellarioides plant called UF15-97-9 as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs in FIGS. 2 and 3 are of plants that were grown from unrooted cuttings in a poly-covered plastic greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. for 11 weeks from November, 2017 through February, 2018.

(2) FIG. 1Shows the pedigree of UF15-97-9.

(3) FIG. 2Shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of UF15-97-9.

(4) FIG. 3Shows a close-up of the foliage of UF15-97-9.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of UF15-97-9.The detailed description was obtained using 10-week-old plants grown from unrooted cuttings during November, 2017 through February, 2018 in a poly-covered plastic greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. The plants were propagated in mist for 10 days after cuttings were stuck, and then they were grown in 1-gallon pots for approximately 9 weeks. Color references are to The RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS), 2007 5th Edition. Classification: Family.Lamiaceae. Botanical.Plectranthus scutellarioides. Common name.Coleus. Cultivar name.UF15-97-9. Plant description: Form.Spreading. Habit.Upright. Height (from top of soil).25-30 cm. Width (horizontal plant diameter).55-65 cm. Propagation: Type cuttings.Vegetative meristems having at least 1 node. Time to initiate roots.3-4 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.7-10 days. Root habit.Fibrous. Root description.Callus forms in 2-3 days; the roots initiate in 3-4 days; and roots become highly branched in 7-10 days. Branches: Quantity per plant.7. Branch color.Greyish red, RHS N186C. Texture.Smooth. Pubescence.Not present. Stem description.Square-shaped and 0.5 cm diameter at the soil line. Branch diameter.0.4-0.5 cm at the base of a 23 cm long branch. Branch length.20-25 cm. Internode length.3-4 cm. Anthocyanin.Greyish red, RHS N186C. Leaves: Quantity of leaves per branch.20-22. Arrangement: Opposite. Fragrance.Not fragrant. Shape.Ovate. Length.10-12 cm. Width.5-6 cm. Apex.Broadly acute. Base.Attenuate and oblique. Margin.Lobed. Leaf texture (both surfaces).Smooth. Pubescence color (both surfaces).Not present. Venation color.Upper surface: Greyish purple, RHS N187B. Lower surface: Greyish, purplish red, RHS N77B. Venation pattern.Upper surface: Arcuate with a few pinnate. Lower surface: Reticulate. Color.Immature leaf: Upper surface: Red, RHS 183B. Lower surface: Purplish red, RHS N186D. Color.Mature leaf: Upper surface: Center=Greyish purple, RHS 187B; Flecking=Yellow green, RHS 144A. Lower surface: Greyish red, RHS N186C. Petiole length.4-5 cm. Petiole diameter.0.2-0.3 cm. Petiole color.Purplish red, RHS N79B. Petiole texture.Smooth, no pubescence. Flowers and seeds: Not observed. Fruit/Seed set: Not observed. Disease and Insect Resistance: The disease and insect resistance of this cultivar is typical of its species. The most common insect pests observed on this plant in Gainesville, Fla. have been long-tailed or citrus mealybugs (Pseudococcus sp.), which occurred on older stock plant material that had been held in the greenhouse for over 3-4 months. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (Bunyaviridae) has also been observed in plants that were confined in greenhouses with mixed crops (peppers) that were infected with Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). The most common pathogen of this species in the U.S. is downy mildew (Perononspora lamii) and it has been observed in stock materials grown closely together during the cooler growing seasons.