<i>Agapanthus </i>plant named ‘PMB020’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Agapanthus plant named ‘PMB020’, characterized by its upright plant habit, medium height; vigorous growth habit; numerous medium to large flowers with white-colored perianth segments; flowers arranged on dense and large inflorescences supported on upright and strong scapes; flowering annually in the late spring and early summer; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Agapanthus plant named ‘PMB020’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Agapanthus 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 Agapanthus plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PMB020’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘PMB020’.

(4) The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) are close-up views of typical developing flower buds and flowers of ‘PMB020’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early summer (November) in 20-cm containers in a outdoor nursery in Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia and under cultural practices typical of commercial Agapanthus production. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Agapanthus orientalis ‘PMB020’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Agapanthus orientalis, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Agapanthus orientalis identified as code number aga09002, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By in vitro meristem culture. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at substrate temperatures ranging from 18° C. to about 20° C. and ambient temperatures ranging from 28° C. to about 35° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 to 21 days at substrate temperatures ranging from 8° C. to about 12° C. and ambient temperatures ranging from 18° C. to about 25° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 28 to 35 days at substrate temperatures ranging from 18° C. to about 20° C. and ambient temperatures ranging from 28° C. to about 35° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 56 to 62 days at substrate temperatures ranging from 8° C. to about 12° C. and ambient temperatures ranging from 18° C. to about 25° C. Root description.—Thick and fleshy; white in color. Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.—Evergreen flowering perennial plant; upright plant habit, medium in height and strong upright flower scapes; leaves and flowering stems basal; vigorous growth habit. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 55 cm to 60 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 90 cm. Plant width (spread).—About 60 cm to 70 cm. Leaf description: Arrangement and appearance.—Strap-like leaves arranged in a basal rosette with about 18 leaves developing per plant; leaves distichous, simple and sessile; leaves erect to semi-erect in attitude and outwardly arching with development. Leaf length.—About 60 cm. Leaf width.—About 3.9 cm. Shape.—Ligulate; slightly recurved. Apex.—Broadly acute. Margin.—Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy and slightly glaucous. Venation pattern.—Parallel. Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B to 146C; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Flower description: Flower type and flowering habit.—Single funnel-shaped flowers arranged in terminal umbels supported by strong upright scapes; flowers medium to large in size; flowers face upright to outwardly depending on position on the umbel; umbels large and narrowly oblate in shape; freely flowering habit with about 246 flowers developing per umbel. Fragrance.—None detected. Natural flowering season.—Mid-season flowering habit; under natural conditions, plants of the new Agapanthus being flowering during the middle to late spring in southeastern Queensland, Australia. Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to four weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent. Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 155B. Inflorescence diameter.—About 20 cm. Flower diameter.—About 3.9 cm. Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm. Perianth.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically six to seven segments arranged in a single whorl; lower part of a segment is fused into a narrow tube; upper part of a segment is free and flaring outwardly. Segment length: About 2.7 cm. Segment width: About 1.2 cm. Segment lobe shape: Obovate. Segment apex: Acute to acuminate. Segment margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Segment texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Segment color, mature flower: Inner and outer surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D. Tube and throat: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D. Peduncles (scapes).—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter: At mid-section, about 1.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 147B. Pedicels.—Length: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm. Aspect: Upright to horizontal from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically six. Filament length: About 3 cm. Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Oblong; dorsifixed. Anther length: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 163B. Pollen color: Close to 163B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 3 cm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma shape: Clavate. Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Fruits.—Type: Three-sided capsule. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm to 11 mm. Color: Close to 144A to 144B. Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: Typically about seven to twelve. Length: About 9 mm to 12 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 202A. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Agapanthus have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Agapanthus plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Agapanthus have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate drought and temperatures ranging from −3° C. to about 38° C.