Salvia plant named ‘IB304-2 PURPLE’

Abstract

A new and distinct Salvia cultivar named IB304-2 PURPLE is disclosed, characterized by a dense, bushy plant habit, strong peduncles, medium purple-violet colored flowers. Flowers have a calyx flushed with dark anothocyanin. The new variety is a Salvia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named IB304-2 PURPLE 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 IB304-2 PURPLE.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers of IB304-2 PURPLE.

(3) The plant was grown outdoors, in Wonga Park, Australia. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 50 weeks from an unrooted cutting. 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 IB304-2 PURPLE plants grown outdoors in Wonga Park, Australia. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 5 C. to 35 C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Salvia hybrida IB304-2 PURPLE.

PROPAGATION

(5) Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 25 C. Root description: Fine, densely fibrous. Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 days at 25 C.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Upright, bushy annual. Height: Approximately 70 cm. Plant spread: Approximately 100 cm. Growth rate: Rapid. Branching characteristics: Free-branching, Approximately 10 to 14 primary branches. Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 50 to 60 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.4 cm. Quantity of lateral branches: About 12 to 18. Stem: Color.Near RHS Green 138B, flushed with Greyed-Purple N187A. Pubescence.Minute pubescence. Internode length: Approximately 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Age of plant described: Approximately 50 weeks from an unrooted cutting.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.Opposite. Quantity.Approximately 16 to 20 fully expanded per main branch. Average length.Approximately 5.2 cm., including petiole. Average width.Approximately 2.3 cm. Shape of blade.Narrow ovate. Apex.Obtuse. Base.Obtuse to nearly truncate. Attachment.Stalked. Margin.Crenate. Texture of top surface.Matte, minute, coarse pubescence. Reticulate veins. Texture of bottom surface.Matte, minute, coarse pubescence. Color.Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Venation.Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143C. Petiole.Average Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near Yellow-Green 144A.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: Flowering from early Spring through late Summer. Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on spikes. Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 1 week on the plant. Each spike lasts approximately 7 weeks with flowers. Quantity of flowers: About 8 to 12 buds and 6 to 10 fully opened flowers per spike, at one time. Mature plants have approximately 10 to 20 spikes. Spike size: Diameter.Approximately 7.0 cm. Height.Approximately 8 to 15 cm. Individual flowers: Size: Diameter.Approximately 2.5 cm. Length.Approximately 3.0 cm. Persistence: Non-persistent. Fragrance: Moderate, typical Salvia scent. Corolla: 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. Margin.Nearly entire, slightly scalloped. Tip shape.Upper lip tip retuse, lower lip tip rounded with scallops. Length.Upper lip Approximately 1.3 cm, lower lip Approximately 1.8 cm. Tube length Approximately 2.1 cm. Width.Upper lip Approximately 0.4 cm, lower lip Approximately 2.5 cm. Tube width Approximately 0.8 cm. Texture.Upper lip: Highly pubescent on exterior surface. Interior surface glabrous. Lower lip: Glabrous all surfaces. Color: Upper lip.When opening: Inner surface: Background color Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Outer surface: Background color Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Fully opened: Inner surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Outer surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Fading: Inner surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Outer surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Color: Lower lip.When opening: Inner surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Outer surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Fully opened: Inner surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Outer surface: RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Color: Tube.When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82C. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82D. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82D. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B. Bud: Shape.Ovoid. Length.Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter.Approximately 0.9 cm. Color.Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Calyx: Length.Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter.Approximately 0.08 cm. Shape.Tubular. Sepals: Shape.Quantity per flower: 3, fused to form a tube. Unfused apex.Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Width: Approximately 0.5 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Immature: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187C, flushed Purple N79A. Mature: Near RHS Purple N77A. Peduncle: Length.Average range 3.0 to 6.0 cm. Diameter.0.3 cm. Color.Near RHS Purple 79A. Orientation.Upright, straight. Strength.Strong. Texture.Pubescent. Pedicels: Length.Average 0.2 cm. Diameter.0.1 cm. Color.Near RHS Purple 79A. Orientation.Straight, approximately 45 degree angle from attachment. Strength.Flexible. Texture.Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.2. Filament length.Approximately 1.2, approximately .6 cm of length fused to petal. Filament color.Near RHS White N155B. Anthers: Shape.Very narrowly elliptic. Length.Approximately 3 mm. Color.Near RHS Greyed-White 156A. Pollen.Scant colored near Greyed-White 156D. Pistil: Number.1. Length.Approximately 2.2 cm. Color.Near RHS White N155A. Stigma.Shape: Linear, curled. Color: Near RHS Purple 79A. Ovary color: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed. Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures between 5 to 35 C.