Dianthus plant named ‘KonD1044K2’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named KonD1044K2, characterized by its uniformly mounding and upright to broadly spreading plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; relatively long dark green-colored leaves; freely and remontant flowering habit; relatively large red pink-colored single flowers with purple-colored central ring and white-colored throat; vernalization treatment not required for flowering; and good container and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Dianthus plant named KonD1044K2 as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

(2) The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of KonD1044K2 grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of KonD1044K2.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown during the winter and spring in one-gallon containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. and under cultural practices typical of commercial container Dianthus production. During the final production phase of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 C. to 21 C. and night temperatures ranged from 13 C. to 16 C. Plants were pinched two times during the propagation phase and were eight months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrida KonD1044K2. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Proprietary selection of Dianthus hybrida identified as code number E1408, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.Proprietary selection of Dianthus hybrida identified as code number D900, not patented. Propagation: Type.By vegetative terminal cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About one week at temperatures ranging from 20 C. to 21 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About two weeks at temperatures about 20 C. to 21 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and winter.About six to seven weeks at temperatures ranging from 7 C. to 16 C. Root description.Fine, fibrous; white in color, actual color of the roots dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and age of roots. Rooting habit.Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Herbaceous perennial, typically grown as a container and garden plant; uniformly mounding, upright to broadly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.About 23 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.About 26 cm. Plant diameter or spread.About 40 cm. Lateral branches.Branching habit: Freely basal branching habit with numerous primary lateral stems; each primary lateral stem with secondary lateral stems potentially forming at every node. Length, primary lateral stems: About 23 cm. Length, secondary lateral stems: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter, primary lateral stems: Thick, about 4.5 mm. Diameter, secondary lateral stems: About 2 mm. Internode length, proximally: About 4.5 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect, primary lateral stems: Mostly upright. Aspect, secondary lateral stems: About 30 to 40 from primary lateral stem axis. Cross-section: Round, hollow. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to N137A; thin waxy cuticle, close to 189A. Leaf description: Arrangement.Opposite, simple; sessile. Length.Relatively long, about 8 cm. Width.About 9 mm. Shape.Lanceolate. Apex.Narrowly acute. Base.Attenuate; decurrent. Margin.Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.Smooth, glabrous; matte. Venation pattern.Parallel. Color.Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; thin waxy cuticle, close to 189A; venation, close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N137B; thin waxy cuticle, close to 189A; venation, close to N137B. Flower description: Flower form and flowering habit.Terminal and axillary single flowers arranged singly or in pairs; freely flowering habit with numerous flowers developing during the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright. Natural flowering season.Consistent remontant flowering habit from the early spring until the autumn in northern Illinois; plants do not require a vernalization treatment to initiate flowering. Fragrance.Faintly fragrant; clove-like, sweet. Flower buds.Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblong; styles slightly extruded. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 146A; towards the base, close to 144A. Flower diameter.Relatively large, about 3.4 cm. Flower depth.About 2.5 cm. Petals.Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm; at the base, about 1 mm. Shape: Spatulate, fan-shaped. Apex: Praemorse, rounded. Base: Elongated, tapering to a point. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 61A; towards the apex and margins, close to NN155C. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155C; red purple, close to 61A, showing through from upper surface. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 61A to 61B; towards the apex and margins, close to NN155D; central ring, close to N79A; at the base, close to NN155C; throat, close to NN155C; venation, similar to lamina; under lower light and temperature conditions, center color is closer to 61D; color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C; red purple, close to 61A to 61B, showing through from upper surface; tube, close to NN155C; venation, similar to lamina; color does not fade with development. Sepals.Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a single whorl; proximal 70% portion of the sepals are fused into a tubular-shaped calyx. Length: About 2 cm. Sepal width, at base of free portion: About 4 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, inner surface: Close to 144A. Color, outer surface: Close to 146A; towards the base, close to 144A. Peduncles.Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect to about 30 from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to N137A; thin waxy cuticle, close to 189A. Pedicels (when flowers arranged in pairs).Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible and wiry. Aspect: About 30 from the peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to N137A; thin waxy cuticle, close to 189A. Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity: About five to ten stamens per flower. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 10D. Pollen: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil length: About 3.1 cm. Stigma shape: Pointed, curled. Stigma color: Close to NN155C. Style length: About 2 cm. Style color: Close to NN155C. Ovary shape: Oblong. Ovary texture: Smooth, glabrous. Ovary color: Close to 145C to 145D. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants of the new Dianthus to date. Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dianthus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dianthus plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Dianthus have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 9a.