Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-19P17’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named RLH1-19P17, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; relatively small and evergreen dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the winter; freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn; single-type flowers that are red purple in color during the spring; and excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named RLH1-19P17 as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Azalea 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 Azalea plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical five-year old flowering plant of RLH1-19P17 grown during the spring.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet is a side perspective view of a typical two-year old flowering plant of RLH1-19P17 grown during the spring.

(4) The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of plants of RLH1-19P17 grown during the spring.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in three-gallon containers in El Campo and Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Azalea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24 C. and night temperatures averaged 14 C. Plants used for the detailed description were two years old. 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: Rhododendron hybrida RLH1-19P17. Commercial classification: Evergreen Azalea. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Proprietary selection of Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1800-WS, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.Rhododendron hybrida Chinzan, not patented. Propagation: Type.By semi-hardwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About 25 to 30 days at temperatures about 27 C. to 30 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About 35 to 45 days at temperatures about 16 C. to 17 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 60 to 70 days at temperatures about 27 C. to 30 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.About 80 to 100 days at temperatures about 16 C. to 17 C. Root description.Fine, fibrous; initially white in color becoming light brown with development; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant form, plant and growth habit.Perennial and evergreen flowering subshrub; compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely flowering habit with numerous single flowers. Branching habit.Freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially developing at every node; dense and bushy appearance; pinching (removal of terminal apex) enhances lateral branch development. Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.About 15 cm. Plant diameter, area of spread.About 31 cm. Lateral branch description.Length: About 12.5 cm. Diameter at base: About 3 mm. Internode length at fully developed upper leaf axils: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly spreading. Texture and luster, developing: Pubescent, fine white-colored hairs; matte. Texture and luster, mature: Woody; pubescent, fine rusty brown-colored hairs; matte. Color, developing: Close to 146B to 146C. Color, semi-hardwood: Close to 146B to 146C becoming close to 165A with development. Color, mature: Close to 166A. Leaf description.Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Leaf retention: Very good winter leaf retention has been observed on plants of the new Azalea. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Elliptic, obovate to oblanceolate. Apex: Acute; mucronulate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Venation pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; coriaceous, tough. Luster, upper surface: Glossy. Luster, lower surface: Matte. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: More green than 137B to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than N137A; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Petioles: Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B to 146C. Flower description: Flower appearance and arrangement.Single-type flowers arranged mostly outwardly in clusters at terminals and sub- terminals; single whorl of five petals fused towards the base. Natural flowering season.Spring, April to May, and then remontant flowering during the summer and autumn, July to October or until frost in USDA Hardiness Zone 6B. Flowering habit.Freely flowering habit with usually about three to five flowers per terminal or sub-terminal. Flower longevity.Flowers are durable and long-lasting; depending on the temperature, flowers last about five to ten days on the plant, dependent on ambient temperatures; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.None detected. Flower diameter.About 5.5 cm to 6 cm. Flower depth.About 3.5 cm. Flower buds (before showing color).Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Pubescent, matte. Color: Close to 144A to 144B. Petals.Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate; roughly spatulate. Apex: Rotund; slightly undulate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugulose; waxy to velvety in appearance. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 58A; central spots and speckles, close to 53A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 58B to 58C. Sepals.Arrangement: Five in a single whorl, fused at the base forming a campanulate to star-shaped corona. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B. Peduncles.Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144B to 144C. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Quantity of stamens per flower: About five. Filament length: About 3 cm. Filament color: Close to 58D. Anther shape: Porandrous with two oblong, tubular to lunate-shaped pollen sacks basifixed to the filament. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 187A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 4.5 cm. Stigma shape: Round to flattened (capitate). Stigma color: Close to 59A. Style length: About 3.75 cm. Style color: Close to 58D. Ovary color: Close to 146A. Fruits and seeds.Fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants of the new Azalea to date. Garden performance & temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Azalea have been observed to be very tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 22 C. to 45 C. Plants of the new Azalea are adaptable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6B to 9. Disease & pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Azalea plants to date.