<i>Iberis </i>plant named ‘Doibexwhi’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Iberis plant named Doibexwhi, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit; relatively late flowering; numerous dense inflorescences with light purple-colored flowers; and good container and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Iberis plant named Doibexwhi as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Iberis 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 Iberis plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of Doibexwhi grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 17-cm containers initially in a glass-covered greenhouse and finished in an outdoor nursery in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Iberis production. During the production of the plants, average daily temperatures were 21 C and average night temperatures were 15 C. Plants were pinched two weeks after planting and were 49 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Iberis sempervirens Doibexwhi. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Iberis sempervirens Pink Ice, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,854. Male, or pollen, parent.Proprietary selection of Iberis sempervirens identified as code number IB-0004, not patented. Propagation: Type.Terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About 16 days at temperatures about 26 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About three weeks at temperatures about 23 C. Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.About 24 days at temperatures about 23 C. Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.About four weeks at temperatures about 5 C. Root description.Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white to light yellow in color, 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.Moderately freely branching habit; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Perennial, good performance as a container and garden plant; compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; about four primary branches develop per plant each with about 60 secondary laterals; dense and bushy habit; pinching enhances lateral branch development. Plant height.About 22 cm. Plant diameter.About 38 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.About 18 cm. Diameter.About 2 mm. Internode length.About 6 mm. Strength.Strong. Aspect.Upright to about 45 degrees from vertical. Texture and luster.Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, developing and developed.Close to 143B. Leaf description: Arrangement.Alternate, simple; sessile. Length.About 1.3 cm. Width.About 5 mm. Shape.Linear. Apex.Acute. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Mostly entire; occasionally one or two shallow indentations. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Venation pattern.Single midvein discernible. Color.Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 139A; venation, close to 139A. Flower description: Flower arrangement and habit.Cruciferous flowers arranged in terminal corymbs; flowers face mostly upright; freely flowering habit with about 35 flowers per inflorescence with about 15,900 flowers developing during the flowering season. Fragrance.Faintly fragrant; pleasant. Natural flowering season.Plants flower about 49 weeks after planting and flower naturally in May and June in The Netherlands; flowering period lasts about three to four weeks; flowers persistent. Inflorescence height.About 2.1 cm. Inflorescence diameter.About 3.5 cm. Flower buds.Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 155D and 76B. Flower diameter.About 3 mm by 14 mm. Flower depth.About 1.2 cm. Petals.Arrangement: Four petals in a single whorl; two smaller and two larger petals. Length: Smaller petals: About 1 mm. Larger petals: About 1 cm. Width: Smaller petals: About 3 mm. Larger petals: About 7 mm. Shape, all petals: Obovate. Apex, all petals: Obtuse. Base, all petals: Obtuse. Margin, all petals: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, all petals: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 76A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 76B; color becoming closer to NN155D with subsequent development. Sepals.Arrangement: Calyx with four sepals in a single whorl. Calyx length: About 4 mm. Calyx diameter: About 6 mm. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143A tinged with close to 70A. Peduncles.Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle: About 45 degrees from lateral branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 143A. Pedicels.Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: Erect to about 45 degrees from peduncle axis depending on position on corymb. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 143C. Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to N87B tinged with close to 143C. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 6A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 6A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to N79A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded, capitate. Stigma color: Close to 143C. Ovary color: Close to 143C tinged with close to N79A. Seeds and fruits.To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Iberis. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Iberis have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Iberis plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Iberis have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain, temperatures ranging from about ?20 C to about 35 C and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.