Coleus plant named 'UF16-72-8'

Abstract

UF16-72-8 is a new coleus plant with novel characteristics that include a vigorous compact mounded growth habit, an excellent heat tolerance, and consistent bright green leaves with maroon venation and pink accents. It has superior stability in foliage color in both sun and shade conditions, maintaining stable color in all conditions. UF16-72-8 has not been observed to produce flowers in any trial we have conducted to date, and thus it has long season performance as an annual plant in the landscape until late Fall.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Plectranthus scutellarioides plant called UF16-72-8 as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs in FIGS. 2 and 3 are of plants grown for 11 weeks from unrooted cuttings in May-July 2017 in a poly-covered plastic greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla.

[0009] FIG. 1Shows the pedigree of UF16-72-8..

[0010] FIG. 2Shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of UF16-72-8.

[0011] FIG. 3Shows a close-up of the foliage of UF16-72-8..

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0012] The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of UF16-72-8. The detailed description was obtained using 10-week-old plants grown from unrooted cuttings in May-July 2017 in a poly-covered plastic greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. The plants were propagated in mist for 10 days after cuttings were stuck and then grown in 1-gallon pots for approximately 9.5 additional weeks. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2007 5th Edition. [0013] Classification: [0014] Family.Lamiaceae. [0015] Botanical.Plectranthus scutellarioides. [0016] Common name.Coleus. [0017] Cultivar name.UF16-72-8. [0018] Plant description: [0019] Form.Spreading. [0020] Habit.Upright. [0021] Height (from top of soil).35-40 cm. [0022] Width (horizontal plant diameter).55-60 cm. [0023] Propagation: [0024] Type cuttings.Vegetative meristems having at least 1 node. [0025] Time to initiate roots.3-4 days. [0026] Time to produce a rooted cutting.7-10 days. [0027] Root habit.Fibrous. [0028] Root description.Callus forms in 2 to 3 days, roots initiate in 3-4 days and become a highly branched cutting in 7-10 days. [0029] Branches: [0030] Quantity per plant.6-7. [0031] Branch color.RHS 144A. [0032] Texture.Smooth. [0033] Pubescence.Not present. [0034] Stem description.Square-shaped stem, 0.7 cm in diameter at the soil line. [0035] Branch diameter.0.5-0.6 cm at the base of a 24 cm long branch. [0036] Branch length.30-35 cm. [0037] Internode length.5-6 cm. [0038] Anthocyanin.Not present. [0039] Leaves: [0040] Quantity of leaves per branch.16-18. Arrangement: Opposite. [0041] Fragrance.Not fragrant. [0042] Shape.Ovate. [0043] Length.10-12 cm. [0044] Width.10-12 cm. [0045] Apex.Broadly acute. [0046] Base.Rounded. [0047] Margin.Crenate. [0048] Leaf texture (both surfaces).Smooth. [0049] Pubescence color (both surfaces).Not present. [0050] Venation color.Upper surface: RHS N92A and RHS 143C. Lower surface: RHS 145C. [0051] Venation pattern.Upper surface: Reticulate. Lower surface: Reticulate. [0052] Color.Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N145A. Lower surface: RHS 145B. [0053] Color.Mature leaf: Upper surface: Vein region=RHS N92A; Between Veins=RHS 143C; Base=RHS 138A. Lower surface: RHS 138B. [0054] Petiole length.5-6 cm. [0055] Petiole diameter.0.3-0.4 cm. [0056] Petiole color.RHS 145A. [0057] Petiole texture.Smooth, no pubescence. [0058] Flowers and seeds: Flowers and seeds have not been observed to date during formal trials in Gainesville, Fla. [0059] Fruit/seed set: Fruit/seed not observed. [0060] Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is typical of the species, and thus no claims are made of any superior disease or insect resistance with this cultivar. The most common insect pests observed on this plant in Gainesville, Fla. have been long-tailed or citrus mealybugs (Pseudococcus sp.), which occur on older stock plant material held in the greenhouse for over 3-4 months. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (Bunyaviridae) has also been observed in plants confined in greenhouses with mixed crops (peppers) infected with Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). The most common pathogen of this species in the U.S. is downy mildew (Peronospora lamii). This pathogen has been observed in stock materials grown closely together in cooler growing seasons.