Rhododendron plant named ‘WHA01’

Abstract

A new and distinct Rhododendron cultivar named WHA01 is disclosed, characterized by distinctive full double pink flowers. Plants are upright and vigorous. Plants bloom Spring, Summer and Fall and exhibit good tolerance to environmental stressors. The new cultivar is a Rhododendron, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named WHA01 as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a 2 year old plant of the new variety in a 5 gallon pot.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical flower of the new variety.

(3) 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 WHA01 plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrida WHA01.

PROPAGATION

(5) Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and Summer. Root description: Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched. Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Upright evergreen shrub. Height: Approximately 75 cm to top of foliar and flowering plane. Plant spread: Approximately 85 cm. Branching characteristics: Well branched, approximately 3 to 6 primary branches from the center of the plant. Branches occur at approximately 15 to 45 angles. Each primary branch has 4 to 8 lateral branches. Primary branches: Length of primary branches.Average range 15 to 30 cm. Diameter of primary branches.Approximately 1.01 cm. Primary branch strength.Very strong, difficult to break. Primary branch color.Near Greyed-Orange 177A, streaked Greyed-Green 197B. Primary branch texture.Scaly, rough. Lateral branches: Number of lateral branches.Approximately 4 to 8 per primary branch. Length of lateral branches.Average range 12 to 30 cm. Diameter of lateral branches.Average 0.4 to 0.7 cm. Lateral branch strength.Very strong, flexible. Lateral branch color.New growth near RHS Yellow-Green 144B; oldest branches become woody, colored near Greyed-Orange 177A. Lateral branch texture.Immature growth hirsute. Older growth scaly, hirsute. Internode length: Average range 2.5 to 4.0 cm. Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Type.Simple. Arrangement.Sub-opposite. Average length.Average range 4.2 to 6.8 cm. Average width.Average range 2.2 to 2.7 cm. Shape of blade.Obovate. Apex.Mucronate. Base.Broad attenuate. Attachment.Stalked. Margin.Entire. Cilliate. Texture of top surface.Sparsely pubescent. Hairs appressed. Texture of bottom surface.Sparsely pubescent. Denser and longer hairs present along main vein and margin. Color.Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Venation: Type.Pinnate. Venation color upper side.Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A. Venation color under side.Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Petiole: Length.About 0.5 cm. Diameter.About 0.2 cm. Color.Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B.

FLOWER

(8) Bloom period: Plants begin flowering in the Spring, and continue to produce flowers throughout Summer and Fall in the Southern United States. Flower: Arrangement.Axillary clusters of perfect, double funnel shaped individual flowers. Typically 3 to 5 flowers per cluster. Inflorescence: Height.Average 9.0 cm. Diameter.Average 10.0 cm. Peduncle: Not present, inflorescence pedicels emerge directly from node. Pedicel: Length.Average 0.7 cm to 1.7 cm. Diameter.0.4 cm. Color.Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Texture.Densely pubescent. Long, soft hairs colored near Greyed-Red 180D. Aspect.Straight. Angle of attachment, approximately 45 angle from stem. Strength.Very sturdy and flexible. Flowers: Length.Average 3.9 cm. Diameter.Average 8.0 cm. Facing direction.Outwardly and upwardly facing. Persistent or self-cleaning.Self-cleaning. Fragrance.Faint sweet smell. Tube: Tube length.Approximately 1.0 cm. Tube width a widest point.Approximately 1.0 cm. Tube width and narrowest point.Approximately 0.8 cm. Petals: Unfused petal segments.Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.8 cm. Apex.Typically acute. Outermost ring of petals can be mucronate. Shape of petal.Unfused portion, obovate. Petal margin.Entire, ruffled. Petal arrangement.Overlapping, bilateral symmetry dissecting bottom petal. Petals fused approximately distance from base. Petal number.Average 15 to 20 full petals. 5 to 10 irregularly shaped and sized petaloids mainly in center of flower. Petal texture.Smooth, ridged. Petal appearance.Slightly shiny/irredescent. Color.Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D, basal dots near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near 63A. Under surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D, faint streaks near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near 63A. Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D, basal dots near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near 63A. Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D, faint streaks near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near 63A. Upper surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D, faint streaks near 63C. Very fine margin coloration near 63A. Under surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D, faint streaks near 63D. Very fine margin coloration near 63A. Bud: Shape.Elliptic. Length.2.9 cm. Diameter.1.7 cm. Color.Near RHS Red-Purple N57D. Calyx/sepals: Sepals self-cleaning before flower is fully open. Quantity per flower.5 sepals. Shape.Narrow deltate. Length.2.0 cm. Width.1.0 cm. Apex.Acute. Base.Fused. Margin.Entire. Texture.Exterior surface pubescent, interior surface glabrous. Color.Interior Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151D, base flushed near Red 53A. Apex Green 137A. Outer Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151C, base and significant streaks throughout colored near Greyed-Purple 187B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.1 or 2 full stamens, 1 or 2 undeveloped stamenoidal structures present. Stamen length.1.5 cm. Width.0.1 cm. Color.Near RHS Red-Purple 62A. Anthers.Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A. Pollen: Not observed. Pistil: Number.1. Length.Average 4.4 cm. Style.Length: Average 3.4 cm. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple N57C. Stigma.Globular, colored near Red-Purple N66A. Ovary.Sericeous texture. Approximately 0.3 cm in diameter, 1.0 cm long. Colored near Red 55D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron. Temperature tolerance: Observed hardy to USDA Zone 7, potentially hardy to zone 6. Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.