<i>Rhododendron </i>plant named ‘NCRX12’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named NCRX12 is disclosed, characterized by a floriferous plant with a prostrate, compact habit. Single deep-pink flowers bloom in spring and rebloom in fall. The new variety is a Rhododendron, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named NCRX12 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying 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.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of the habit of a four-year-old field-grown plant of NCRX12 in Mills River, NC in spring 2019.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of the deep pink flowers of a three-year-old container-grown plant of NCRX12 in Mills River, NC in spring 2023.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct Rhododendron NCRX12. The detailed description was taken from a three-year-old, container-grown plant, in Mills River, North Carolina in 2023. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), London, Sixth Edition. Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid NCRX12.

PROPAGATION

(5) Method: Softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots: 60 days at 18 to 27 C. in summer. Time to produce rooted young plant: 80 days in summer. Root description: Dense, freely branched, thin to medium thickness, and fibrous. White to brown in color, not accurately measured using R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

(6) Age of plant described: 3 years old. Growth habit: Prostrate, compact. Height: 30 cm. Plant spread: 50 cm. Branches (woody branches 2 years and older): Length.About 17 cm. Diameter.About 0.5 cm. Color.RHS Brown N199B. Texture.Pubescent. Shoots (current year's growth): Length.About 17 cm. Diameter.About 0.2 cm. Color.RHS Yellow-Green N144D. Texture.Pubescent. Shoots (prior year's growth): Length.About 17 cm. Diameter.About 0.3 cm. Color.RHS Greyed-Orange 165A. Texture.Pubescent. Internode length: Average 1 cm.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.Alternate, simple. Persistence.Evergreen. Length.Average 2.2 cm. Width.Average 1 cm. Shape.Ovate. Apex.Mucronate. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Entire. Texture.Top surface: Pubescent. Bottom surface: Pubescent. Color.Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 138A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Fall foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137A. Fall foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Venation.Type: Reticulate. Petiole.Length: About 0.4 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Texture: Both sides pubescent. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146C.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: April to May, reblooms late September through October, in Mills River, NC. Inflorescence type: Congested terminal raceme (truss). Quantity of flowers: 1 to 5 per truss. Lastingness of flowers: Each flower lasts approximately 3-7 days. Fragrance: None. Persistence: Self-cleaning. Truss bud: Length.About 1.2 cm. Diameter.About 0.6 cm. Bud scales: Number.5 to 8. Length.Average 0.7 cm. Width.Average 0.5 cm. Color.RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Texture.Pubescent. Perianth: Shape.Funnel shaped. Height.Average 2.6 cm. Diameter at anthesis.Average. 4.0 cm. Arrangement.Whorled. Aspect.Facing upwards and outwards. Attachment.Pedicellate. Petals: Number.5. Length.Average 3 cm. Width.Average 1.7 cm. Shape.Obovate. Apex.Obtuse. Base.Fused. Margin.Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.Glabrous. Color.Color is consistent from opening to anthesis. When opening, inner side: RHS Purple-Red 61C. When opening, outer side: RHS Purple-Red 61C. Blotch: None. Sepals: Number.5. Length.About 0.7 cm. Width.About 0.3 cm. Shape.Lanceolate. Apex.Cuneate. Base.Truncate. Margin.Ciliate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.Pubescent. Color (both surfaces).RHS Yellow-Green 146D. Pedicels: Length.Average 0.8 cm. Diameter.About 0.1 cm. Color.RHS Yellow-Green RHS 146D. Texture.Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Gynoecium: Pistil number.1. Pistil length.About 2.8 cm. Style length.About 2.4 cm. Style width.About 0.1 cm. Style color.RHS Purple-Red 61B. Stigma shape.Orbicular. Stigma length.About 0.1 cm. Stigma width.About 0.1 cm. Ovary shape.Orbicular. Ovary length.0.4 cm. Ovary diameter.0.3 cm. Ovary texture.Pubescent. Ovary color.RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Androecium: Stamen number.5. Anther shape.Ovoid with two apical pores. Anther attachment.Dorsifixed. Anther length.About 0.1 cm. Anther width.About 0.1 cm. Filament length.About 2.5 cm. Filament diameter.Less than 0.1 cm. Filament color.RHS Purple-Red 61C. Amount of pollen.Normal. Pollen type.Thread-like. Pollen Color: RHS White NN155C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Fruit and seed: None observed. Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal pests and diseases of Rhododendron has been observed. Cold hardiness: Reliably cold-hardy in USDA zone 6b.