<i>Hibiscus </i>plant named ‘HQ297’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘HQ297’, characterized by its upright, mounding, dense and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large white and purplish pink-colored flowers with red-colored throats; and good flower longevity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘HQ297’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

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

(2) The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HQ297’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 23-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time about eight weeks after planting and plants were 26 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘HQ297’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number HQ-0272, not patented. Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number HQ-3025, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at ambient and soil temperatures about 24° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at ambient and soil temperatures about 24° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight weeks at ambient and soil temperatures about 24° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About nine weeks at ambient and soil temperatures about 24° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close to 158A, 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 and growth habit.—Container plant; upright, mounding, and bushy and dense plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit. Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially forming at every node; pinching enhances lateral branch development. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 35 cm to 55 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm to 45 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.—About 12 cm to 20 cm. Diameter.—About 5 mm to 7 mm. Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm. Strength.—Strong. Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development. Color.—Close to 138A; when woody, color becoming closer to 195A. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous. Length.—About 6 cm to 11 cm. Width.—About 6 cm to 8 cm. Shape.—Cordate. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Crenate. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Scattered pubescence; venation prominent; glossy. Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 136A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation, close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N138B; venation, close to 138B and 137A. Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to N200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A. Leaf stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two at the base of the petiole, opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Linear to lanceolate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A. Flower description: Flower arrangement.—Single-type flowers borne at terminal leaf axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly. Fragrance.—None detected. Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants begin flowering about 12 to 16 weeks after pinching. Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for about two to three days; flowers persistent. Flower diameter.—About 13 cm to 18 cm. Flower length (height).—About 9 cm to 10 cm. Flower throat diameter.—About 3 cm to 5 cm. Flower buds.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about three days. Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Color: Initially, close to 145A; prior to opening, becoming closer to 35A with venation, close to 145A. Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 9 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate to fan-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly flared and undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous; rough with a velvety appearance; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous, rough with a satiny appearance; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Distally, close to N155D and proximally, close to 54B. When opening, lower surface: Distally, close to N155B and proximally, close to 158A and 49B. Fully opened, upper surface: Distally, close to N155D and proximally, close to 55A; color does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Distally, close to N155B and proximally, close to 49B; color does not change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to 53A to 53B. Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Rough, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A. Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143A. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, more than 100. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to 49A. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther color: Close to 22A. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Staminal column texture: Smooth, waxy. Staminal column color: Close to 52A; towards the base, close to 53A. Style length: About 7 cm; five-parted at the apex. Style color: Close to 155A. Stigma appearance: Five rounded stigma pads. Stigma pad color: Close to 17A. Ovary color: Close to 155C. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to have tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hibiscus not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus plants.