Penstemon plant named ‘Balmibred’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Penstemon plant named Balmibred, characterized by its medium red-purple colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Penstemon plant named Balmibred, 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 Balmibred. The plants were approximately four months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 12 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 Balmibred.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of Balmibred.

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 July 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 12 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 1 week in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one at one week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures in Elburn, Ill. 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: Penstemon hybrid Balmibred. Parentage: Female parent.Proprietary Penstemon hybrid breeding selection coded G3003-01, not patented. Male parent.Proprietary Penstemon hybrid breeding selection coded G3003-02, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 10 to 12 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.Approximately 5 to 6 weeks. Root description.Fine to medium, fibrous white to light brown in color. 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.Tender perennial; moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit. Hardiness.USDA Zones 7a (0 F. to 5 F./17.8 C. to 15 C.). Size.Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 32.0 cm. Width: Approximately 33.0 cm. Branching habit.Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 5 main basal branches and approximately 19 lateral branches. Lateral branch.Shape: Round in cross section. Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately 12.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stem: 145B. Color of mature stem: 146B. Foliage description: General description.Quantity of leaves per branch: Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite and decussate. Leaves.Aspect: Acute angle to stem with blade perpendicular and tips downward turning. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with venation of 146D. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 146D. Flowering description: Flowering habit.Balmibred is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming in late spring and reblooming in late summer. Lastingness of individual floret.Approximately 6 to 7 days. Inflorescence description: General description.Type: Terminal raceme, not persistent, multilateral arrangement. Quantity of open inflorescences per plant: Approximately 11. Fragrance: None detected. Length or height of inflorescence: Approximately 13.0 cm to 20.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately 6.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 6 to 8. Peduncle.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 cm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146B. Flower description: Type.Single, zygomorphic. 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: Obovoid. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: Calyx of 137A with base of 146C and an overlay of 187A near apex; petals of 61A to 61B with abaxial side of 155C. Corolla.Shape: Bilabiate, upper lip of two lobes and lower lip having three lobes. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.5 cm. Upper lip lobes.Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: 61A. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: 59A. Lower lip lobes.Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length from throat of central lobe: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of central lobe: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length from throat of lateral lobes: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width of lateral lobes: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: 61A. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: 59A. Corolla tube.Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of inner surface: NN155A with stripes of 61A near lower lobes. Color of outer surface: 59A to 59C transitions to 61B to 61C with age, spot of NN155A on abaxial side. Calyx.Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Sepals.Quantity per flower: 5. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 137A. Color of outer surface: 137A with base of 146C and an overlay of 187A near apex. Pedicel.Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute angle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B to 146A tinted faintly with 187A. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, one lacking a mature anther. Stamen length: Approximately 1.9 cm to 2.2 cm. Filament length: Approximately 1.8 cm to 2.1 cm. Filament color: NN155D. Anther shape: Horseshoe-like. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 155D with an overlay of 59D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: NN155D. Style length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Style color: NN155D with a faint overlay of 187A at base. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: N144C. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Penstemon has not been observed.