<i>Delphinium </i>plant named ‘ET DLP 838’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 838’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; relatively short internodes; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; moderately strong to strong flowering stems with dense inflorescences with numerous violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 838’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the Delphinium 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 actual colors of the new Delphinium plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET DLP 838’ grown in an container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘ET DLP 838’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used for the following description were grown in 21-cm containers during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Delphinium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x belladonna) ‘ET DLP 838’. PARENTAGE: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium elatum identified as code number 1033, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium x belladonna identified as code number B-852, not patented. Propagation: Type of propagation.—In vitro meristem culture. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 16 days at temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 21° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 25 days at temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 10° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five to six weeks at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 15° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically yellowish 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.—Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant typel.—Herbaceous perennial. Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching 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 100 cm to 105 cm. Plant width.—About 60 cm to 65 cm. Internode length.—About 2 cm to 5 cm. Stem strength.—Moderately strong to strong. Stem texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to matte. Stem color.—Close to 143C. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Single, alternate or slightly whorled towards the plant base. Leaf length.—About 10 cm to 11 cm. Leaf width.—About 15 cm. Shape.—Palmately lobed with four to five lobes per leaf; overall leaf shape, roughly ovate to elliptic. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cordate. Margin.—Strongly serrate; lobes are shallow to moderate and divergent. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; rough and rugose; matte. Venation pattern.—Palmate. Color.—Developint and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 138A. Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. Flower description: Flower arrangement and shape.—Double star-shaped flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; flowers face mostly outwardly. Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 40 flowers developing per inflorescence and more than 400 flowers per plant. Fragrance.—None detected. Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants flower continuously during the spring and summer in The Netherlands. Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent. Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy to matte. Color: Close to 142A blushed with close to 94A. Inflorescence height.—About 25 cm to 35 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm. Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 6 cm. Flower height.—About 2.5 cm. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five to six petals in a single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate to slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 96A; towards the base, close to 91C; central petals, close to 155A and at their center, close to 154C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 95B; towards the center, close to 91B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 95A to 95B; inner petals, close to 86A and towards the center and margins, close to 95B; central petals, close to 155A and at their center, close to 154C; venation, close to 95A to 95B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 86C; towards the margins, close to 95A to 95B venation, close to 85A. Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: Up to five petaloids in a single whorl; petaloids imbricate. Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 96A; towards the base, close to 91C. When opening, lower surface: Close to more purple than 94A; towards the center, close to 91C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 95A to 95B; venation, close to 95A to 95B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 94C; towards the center, close to 91C; venation, close to 91C. Peduncles.—Length: About 100 cm to 105 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 143A. Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 137A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25 to 30. Filament length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N200B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Three to four. Pistil length: About 6 mm to 12 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Style color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 150B. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Delphinium. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Delphinium have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Delphinium plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Delphinium have exhibited good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from −20° C. to 40° C.