<i>Scutellaria </i>plant named ‘APPALACHIAN BLUES’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Scutellaria plant named ‘APPALACHIAN BLUES’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive purple calyxes, stems, and leaf margins. Plants have controlled, herbaceous, clumping habits. Flowers are bi-colored, violet-blue and white. The new variety is a Scutellaria, typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Scutellaria plant named ‘APPALACHIAN BLUES’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘APPALACHIAN BLUES’ grown outdoors in West Newbury, Mass. This plant is approximately 2-3 years old, shown in the ground.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the foliage and flowering bracts.

(3) The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe a ‘APPALACHIAN BLUES’ plant. This plant was grown outdoors in West Newbury, Mass. The plant described is approximately 5 years old. Temperatures ranged from 5-18° C. at night and 15° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Scutellaria hybrid ‘APPALACHIAN BLUES’.

PROPAGATION

(5) Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots: About 2.0 to 30 days at approximately 15° C. Root description: Fine and fibrous, creamy white, not accurately measured with a color chart.

PLANT

(6) Age of plant described: Approximately 5 years. Container size of the plant described: Planted in the ground in Massachusetts in USDA hardiness Zone 6A. Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, clumping habit. Height: Approximately 30 cm. Plant spread: 60 cm. Growth rate: Moderate. Length of primary stem: 30 cm. Characteristics of main stem: Form.—Square. Diameter.—About 0.3 cm. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A with an RHS Greyed-Purple N186C overlay as it matures. Texture.—Glabrous. Strength.—Moderate to strong. Branching characteristics: Free branching, basal and lateral branches. Pinching is not required but increases branching. Length of primary lateral branches: Average 35 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: 3 mm. Quantity of primary lateral branches: 35-40. Length of primary lateral branches: 30-35 cm. Characteristics of primary lateral branches: Form.—Basal clump. Diameter.—0.4 cm. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146B flushed with Greyed-Purple 183B. Texture.—Glabrous. Strength.—Moderate to strong. Internode length: 3.3 cm.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Type.—Simple. Arrangement.—Opposite. Average length.—Approximately 13 cm. Average width.—Approximately 3.5 cm. Shape of blade.—Oblong-obovate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cuneate. Attachment.—Petiolate. Margin.—Dentate. Texture of top surface.—Glabrous and sparsely puberulous. Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous. Appearance of top surface.—Matte. Appearance of bottom surface.—Slightly glossy. Leaf internode length.—Approximately 3 cm. Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green N137A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature margin: RHS Violet-Blue N92A. Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green N144A. Petiole: Length.—2.5 cm. Diameter.—1.5 mm. Color upper side.—RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Color under side.—RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: Summer: June to July in West Newbury, Mass. in a typical year. Inflorescence (raceme): Verticillaster. Height.—10-12 cm. Diameter.—3.6 cm. Quantity of flowers per (average range).—Inflorescence has 5 to 7 pairs of flowers. Peduncle: Length.—2 cm. Diameter.—2 mm. Texture.—Smooth. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Orientation.—Near vertical. Strength.—Medium to strong. Individual flowers: Flower longevity on plant: 2-3 weeks. Bud: Shape.—Globular. Length.—2 cm. Diameter.—Tapered 1 to 1.5 cm. Color.—RHS Violet N87B. Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically bilabiate with 2 small, highly fused lobes forming an upper lip and 3 larger highly fused lobes forming a lower lip. Size: Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm. at widest point. Length.—Approximately 2.6 cm. Persistence.—Persistent. Fragrance.—None observed. Petals: Margin.—Entire. Tip shape.—Upper lip: Attenuate. Lower lip: Emarginate. Length.—Upper lip: 0.9 cm. Lower lip: 0.9 cm. Tube: 1.3 cm. Width.—Upper lip: 0.25 cm. Lower lip: 1.3 cm. Tube: 0.4 cm. Texture.—Upper lip: Glabrous. Lower lip: Glabrous, sparsely lanate on outer surface. Tube: Glabrous. Color: Upper lip.—When opening: Inner surface: RHS Violet-Purple 92A. Outer surface: RHS Violet-Purple 92A. Fully opened: Inner surface: RHS Violet N87B. Outer surface: RHS Violet N87B. Fading: Inner surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92C. Outer surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92B. Color: Lower lip.—When opening: Inner surface: RHS White 155C with Violet-Blue 92A markings. Outer surface: RHS White 155C with Violet-Blue 92A markings. Fully opened: Inner surface: RHS White 155C with Violet-Blue N87B markings. Outer surface: RHS White 155C with Violet-Blue N87B markings. Fading: Inner surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92A with White 155C blotch. Outer surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92A. Color: Tube.—When opening: Inner surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92C. Outer surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92A. Fully opened: Inner surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92C. Outer surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92A. Fading: Inner surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92C. Outer surface: RHS Violet-Blue 92B. Sepals: Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3 — basally fused. Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm. Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm. Margin.—Entire. Texture.—Waxy. Color.—RHS Purple N79B. Pedicels: Length.—0.2 cm. Diameter.—0.1 cm. Angle.—About 60° to the lateral branch. Strength.—Moderate. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—RHS Greyed-Purple 187B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.—4. Filament.—2.5 cm long, white/translucent. Anthers: Shape.—Reniform. Length.—Less than 0.1 cm. Color.—RHS Grey-Brown N199A. Pollen.—Color: RHS Greyed-Purple N187. Quantity: Very sparse. Pistil: Number.—1. Length.—2.6 cm. Style.—Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Color: White, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. Stigma.—Shape: Filiform. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green N144C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Fruit/seeds: Not observed. Disease/pest resistance: No resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Scutellaria have been observed. Temperature tolerance: Observed cold hard to −23° C. Drought tolerance: Drought resistance observed.