<i>Salvia </i>plant named ‘Celebration’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Salvia plant named Celebration that is distinguishable by its compact well-branched rounded plant habit and bi-colored foliage of Celebration whose leaves are sage-green in color with vibrant golden yellow colored margins. The foliage of Celebration is highly aromatic, especially when crushed, and is characteristic of the scent and flavor of the commonly used culinary herb sage. Plants of Celebration respond to regular pruning and trimming which stimulates rapid and prolific production of desirable juvenile foliage for culinary use, and averts production of undesirable flower stems. A regularly pruned plant of Celebration will fill out and cover the surface of a 1-quart container within 6-8 weeks of transplanting a rooted cutting. A further 4 weeks are required to fill out a 1-gallon container. Plants of Celebration are both heat and drought tolerant when grown in containers or in the landscape.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Salvia plant named Celebration as described and illustrated herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Salvia cultivar Celebration showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Photographs were taken in September 2023 in Santa Barbara, California from a 12-week-old plant grown outdoors in 1-gallon container, with bi-weekly pruning and without the use of any chemical growth regulators. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the actual colors of the new variety Celebration.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts, on the left, the upper surface of a leaf of Celebration and, on the right, the upper surface of the leaf of the sport parent Salvia officinalis Icterina which bear wider golden yellow margins.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts an entire plant of Celebration which has been regularly pruned from establishment and during growth in a 1-gallon container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(4) The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of Celebration. Observations, measurements, values, and comparisons were collected in March 2022 in Santa Barbara, California from a one year old plant which had been growing outdoors in full sun in a 1-gallon container in Santa Barbara, California. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Classification: Family.Lamiaceae. Genus.Salvia. Species.officinalis. Common name.Sage. Parentage: Sport parent.Salvia officinalis Icterina. Plant: Propagation method.Softwood internodal cuttings or tip cuttings. Rooting system.Fine, branching and fibrous; Color 163D. Vigor.Moderate vigor with prolific branching after pruning. Time to develop roots.5 days are needed for a cutting to develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20 to 22 Centigrade. Crop time.Approximately 6 weeks-10 weeks are required to produce a full plant in a one quart container or a one gallon container from planting a rooted cutting. Suggested container sizes.1 quart to 1 gallon container. Use.Herb for culinary use and as an ornamental container or landscape plant. Type.Perennial. Overall dimensions (plant canopy).After 6-8 week's growth in a 1-gallon container, 12 cm in height and 18 cm in diameter. Cultural requirements.Grow in full sun with moderate water and well-draining soil. Hardiness.USDA Zone 4. Form.Dense rounded and mounded bush. Growth habit.Compact. Blooming season.An unpruned plant of Celebration will generate flowering stems in late spring and through summer. Stems (below first pinch): Condition.Semi-ripe (stiff, not lignified). Shape.Round. Length from base to node of lowest leaf pair.1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter.3 mm-4 mm. Surface.Smooth, pubescent. Color.Close to 138C. Branches: Quantity.40-45, of which 6-8 are basal branches. Each basal branch bears 2-4 lateral branches. Basal branch stem shape.Square, corners rounded. Basal branch stem length.Up to 2 cm. from soil level to first (lowest) leaf pair. Basal branch stem width.3 mm-4 mm. Basal branch stem surface.Smooth, lightly pubescent. Basal branch stem surface color.138C tinged N77D where solar-facing. Lateral branch stem shape.Square, corners rounded. Lateral branch stem length.Up to 5 cm. from basal node to base of uppermost leaf pair. Lateral branch stem width.3 mm-4 mm. Lateral branch stem surface.Smooth, lightly pubescent, hairs very fine, less than 1 mm in length, silver in color. Lateral branch stem color.138C tinged N77D where solar-facing. Internode length (lateral branches).Varies between 7 mm and 12 mm. Leaves: Type, arrangement.Simple, opposite. Attachment.Petiolate. Quantity per lateral branch.5-8 pairs. Shape.Elliptic. Length.Up to 34 mm. Width.Up to 13 mm. Margin.Undulating, evenly crenulate, teeth rounded. Thickness.Moderate, approximately 0.2 mm. Venation.Pinnate, midrib slightly sulcate. Abaxial veins prominently raised. Vein color (adaxial surface).As adjacent leaf cells 139C and 4C within yellow marginal band. Vein color (abaxial surface).As adjacent leaf cells 139D and 4D within yellow marginal band. Leaf texture.Rugose. Adaxial surface: rugose, smooth, glabrous. Adaxial surface: rugose, smooth, matte. Leaf color (adaxial surface).139C with yellow marginal band, color 4C. Leaf color (abaxial surface).139D with yellow marginal band, color 4D. Leaf apex.Rounded. Base.Obtuse. Fragrance.Pleasant sage fragrance when rubbed. Stipules.Present at base of lowest leaf attachment, where lateral branch is attached to basal branch). Quantity: 2-3 stipule pairs. Stipule description: Small, petiolate, elliptic, up to 8 mm in length and 3 mm in width. Stipule leaflet color: green 139C to 139D (as leaves) and 4C to 4D as leaf margins. Stipule leaflet surface: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule leaflet margins entire, minutely crenulate. Leaf petiole: Shape.Terete. Length.4 cm. Diameter.1.5 mm. Texture.Puberulent. Color.145D. Inflorescence (peduncle, flowers, reproductive organs, fruit, seed): None produced or observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

(5) Both the sport parent Icterina (Also closest known variety) and Celebration exhibit green and yellow variegated foliage which is predominantly sage-green in color surrounded by a golden-yellow margin. The golden-yellow margin of Icterina extends inwards and occupies approximately 20% of the leaf surface area. The golden-yellow margin of Celebration is narrow in comparison and occupies approximately 10% of the leaf surface area. Plants of Celebration are more vigorous and produce more leaves than plants of Icterina.