Iberis plant named ‘Summer Snowdrift’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Iberis plant named Summer Snowdrift, characterized by its pure white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Iberis plant named Summer Snowdrift, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of Summer Snowdrift. The plants were approximately four months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one at one week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of Summer Snowdrift.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of Summer Snowdrift.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

(5) The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately four-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one at one week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65 F. to 70 F. (18.3 C. to 21.1 C.) during the day and approximately 55 F. to 60 F. (12.8 C. to 15.6 C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Iberis hybrid Summer Snowdrift. Parentage: Parent.Proprietary Iberis hybrid breeding selection coded 16336, not patented Propagation: Type cutting.Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 12 to 14 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.Approximately 14 to 28 days. Root description.Fine, fibrous. Rooting habit.Freely branching. Plant description: Commercial crop time.Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot. Growth habit and general appearance.Herbaceous tender perennial, moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading. Hardiness.USDA Zone 6b (5 F. to 0 F./20.6 C. to 17.8 C.). Size.Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 24.5 cm. Width: Approximately 42.0 cm. Branching habit.Freely branching, pinching improves later branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 12. Branch.Shape: Ribbed. Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture: Ridged and moderately pubescent. Color of young stems: 146C. Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming woody 199B with age. Foliage description: General description.Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 15. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate. Leaves.Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Dentate, ciliate. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base: Attenuate, sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, leathery. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A, venation indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 137C, midvein 146D other venation indistinguishable. Flowering description: Flowering habit.Summer Snowdrift is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn. Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.Approximately 5 to 7 days. Inflorescence description: General description.Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant: Approximately 180. Fragrance: Slight. Length or height of terminal corymb: Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of terminal corymb: Approximately 4.0 cm. Length or height of axillary corymb: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width of axillary corymb: Approximately 3.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per terminal corymb: Approximately 30. Quantity of fully open flowers per axillary corymb: Approximately 13. Peduncle.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 2.5 mm. Length of axillary: Approximately 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter of axillary: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: Closest to 146A. Flower description: Type.Small, asymmetrical cruciferous flowers with two larger abaxial pairs of petals and two smaller adaxial pairs, freely flowering, not persistent, facing outwardly to upright. Bud.Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Bud just before opening.Shape: Globose. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: Sepal centers of 144A and margins of NN155D; petals of NN155D. Corolla.Shape: Cruciform lobes with claws surrounded by calyx. Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm. Petals.Quantity: 4. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of abaxial lobe: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width of abaxial lobe: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of adaxial lobe: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of adaxial lobe: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of claw: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of claw: Less than 1.0 mm. Color of upper surface of lobe when first and fully open: NN155D. Color of lower surface of lobe when first and fully open: NN155D. Color of upper and lower surfaces of claw: Lighter than 145D. Calyx.Shape: Cupped. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Sepals.Quantity per flower: 4, distinct. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. Color of inner and outer surfaces: Centers of 144A to 144B and margins of NN155D. Pedicel.Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Adaxial surface densely glandular pubescent. Color: Closest to 146A. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per flower. Stamen length: Approximately 3.0 mm, 1 pair slightly shorter and inserted lower. Filament color: 145C tinted with 83A. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther color: 13C. Pollen amount: Not observed. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower, ovary superior, flattened orbicular. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma color: 144A. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style color: 144A. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 145B. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Iberis has not been observed.