<i>Hebe </i>plant named ‘HM1803002’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Hebe plant named ‘HM1803002’ that is characterized by its consistently healthy plants that have a low susceptibility to leaf spot disease and downy mildew, its compact plant habit, its leaves that are small in size, its flowers that are self-cleaning, and its flowers that are deep red-purple in color.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hebe plant named ‘HM1803002’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Hebe. The photographs were taken of a 7-month-old plant of ‘FSK17S28’ as grown outdoors in a 12-cm container in Wezep, The Netherlands.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 is a side view of ‘HM1803002’ in bloom.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences and foliage of ‘HM1803002’.

(4) The 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 Hebe.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(5) The following is a detailed description of 7-month-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 12-cm containers in Wezep, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Blooming period.—An average of 5 weeks from summer into autumn in The Netherlands. Plant type.—Evergreen shrub. Plant habit.—Compact. Height and spread.—Average of 13.9 cm in height (soil level to top of foliar plane), 14.9 cm (soil level to top of floral plane) and 16.2 cm in spread as a 7-month-old plant, an average of 60 cm in height and spread in the landscape. Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 8. Diseases and pests.—Low susceptibility to leaf spot disease (Septoria veronicae) and downy mildew (Perenospora ssp.), no susceptibility or resistance to pests has been observed. Root description.—Fibrous to slightly fleshy. Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings and tissue culture. Root development.—3 to 4 weeks to initiate roots and 10 weeks to produce a young rooted plant. Growth rate.—Moderate. Branch description: Branch size.—Main branches; an average of 4.2 cm in length and 2 mm in width, lateral branches; an average of 10 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter. Branch shape.—Round. Branch color.—Young; 197A, internodes; 200B, lower side 200D, mature; 200B to 200C, lower side 146C to 146D. Branch surface.—Slightly glossy, moderately to densely covered with very short glandular hairs; 0.1 mm in length, matches surface color. Branch strength.—Strong. Internode length.—Average of 1.6 cm. Branching habit.—Held in an average angle of 42.5° to vertical, average of 3 primary branches, 2 to 3 secondary branches. Foliage description: Leaf shape.—Obovate, flat to very slightly carinate. Leaf division.—Single. Leaf base.—Cuneate. Leaf apex.—Obtuse to very shallow retuse. Leaf venation.—Pinnate; often with 3 main veins visible, upper surface; 147B, lower surface; 147A. Leaf margins.—Entire, densely covered with very short glandular hairs; 0.1 mm in length, color matches surface color. Leaf attachment.—Sessile. Leaf arrangement.—Opposite. Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, glabrous, non-rugose, moderately glossy. Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A, young lower surface; 139C, mature upper surface; NN137A, mature lower surface; 146B. Leaf number.—Average of 14 per lateral branch 10 cm in length. Leaf size.—An average of 2.8 cm in length and 1.4 cm in width. Flower description: Inflorescence type.—Raceme. Inflorescence size.—Average of 5.1 cm in height and 2.3 cm in width. Inflorescence lastingness.—About 7 days, self-cleaning. Flower shape.—Campanulate. Flower fragrance.—None. Flower quantity.—Average 60 florets per inflorescence, 400 flowers per plant, 2,000 flowers and flower buds per plant. Flower arrangement.—Axillary racemes. Flower aspect.—Outward. Flower size.—Average of 7 mm in height, 5 mm in diameter, 1 cm in depth, throat diameter 2 mm, flower tube 3 mm in length, flower tube 2.25 mm in diameter. Peduncles.—Strong strength, 4.8 cm in length and about 1.75 mm in diameter, 147C, flushed with N199A in color, held at about a 35° angle to lateral branch, surface is very slightly glossy and densely covered with very short glandular hairs an average of 0.1 mm in length, matches surface color. Pedicels.—Moderately strong strength, average of 1.5 mm in length and 0.5 mm in diameter, held at about a 50° angle to peduncle, 146B to 146C in color, surface is very matte and densely covered with very short glandular hairs; an average of 0.1 mm in length, color matches surface color. Flower buds.—Lanceolate to narrow elliptic, 4 mm in length and 1.25 mm in diameter, color; 60B, fading towards the calyx 77A, immature calyx 138A to 138B, surface is matte, smooth and glabrous. Calyx.—Rotate-shaped, average of 1.5 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter. Sepals.—4, 1 whorl, 1.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width, ovate in shape, entire margins, arrangement; rotate, acute tip, base cuneate and fused, surfaces glabrous, matte, slightly glossy, color: when opening upper surface; 138A to 138B, when opening lower side; 138A, when fully open upper and lower surface 138A. Petals.—Average 4, 1 whorl, oblong in shape, lower and lateral petals moderately reflexed, lower 42.5% of petals fused, 4 mm in length and 2.5 mm in width, entire and very slightly concave margins, apex obtuse, upper and lower surface is smooth and glabrous, non-rugose, both surfaces very slightly glossy, color: upper surface when opening; 59D, lower surface when opening; 60D, upper surface when fully open; a blend of 53D and 59D, lower surface when fully open; 59D. Floral bracts.—A single bract is placed below each individual flower, very short oblong in shape, moderately concave, tip bluntly acute, cuneate base, 1.5 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width, both surfaces glabrous and 146D in color. Reproductive organs: Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, 9 mm in length, stigma; club-shaped, 5 mm in length, 182B in color, style; 8.5 mm in length and 61A in color, ovary; 145B in color. Androecium.—Stamens: 2, anthers; oblong in shape, 0.75 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width and 185D in color, filaments; 4 mm in length, color; 64D, pollen; none observed. Fruit and seed.—None observed to date.