<i>Brunnera </i>plant named ‘Frostbite’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Brunnera plant named ‘Frostbite’, characterized by its light blue and white colored flowers, silvery-colored foliage having dark green venation and margins, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Brunnera plant named ‘Frostbite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Frostbite’. The plants were approximately seven months old and grown in 1.7-gallon containers for approximately three months in an outdoor shade nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another one week after transplant.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth habit of ‘Frostbite’.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Frostbite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

(5) The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2022 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately seven-month-old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 1.7-gallon containers for approximately three months in an outdoor shade nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another one week after transplant. Prior to transplant plantlets were grown in liners in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Brunnera macrophylla ‘Frostbite’. Parentage: Female parent.—‘Henry's Eyes’, not patented. Male parent.—‘Silver Heart’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,685. Propagation: Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are possible. Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 10 days. Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately 7 to 8 weeks. Root description.—Rhizomatous with fine, fibrous secondary roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching. Plant description: Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm container. Growth habit and general appearance.—Clump-forming herbaceous perennial, compact-mounded growth habit. Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F./−34.4° C. to −31.7° C.). Size.—Height from soil level to top of foliage: Approximately 15.0 cm. Width: Approximately 38.0 cm. Branching habit.—No branching, basal rosettes. Number of rosettes per plant: Approximately 5. Foliage description: General description.—Quantity of leaves per rosette: Approximately 6. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Basal. Leaves.—Aspect: Blade is at an acute angle to nearly perpendicular to petiole. Shape: Deltoid. Margin: Entire, often with one or two undulations. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 12.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 11.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Densely pubescent, setose. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent setose on venation. Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 190D with margins and venation of 138A. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 146C with venation of 146D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 190D with margins and venation of 137A. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 146B with venation of 146C. Petiole.—Length: Approximately 12.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146B with an overlay of N186A. Flowering description: Flowering habit.—‘Frostbite’ requires vernalization for spring flowering. Can flower sporadically during late summer under outdoor conditions. Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately 3 to 5 days. Inflorescence description: General description.—Type: Paniculate cyme emerging from the base of the rosette. Fragrance: None detected. Length: Approximately 31.0 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 cm. Quantity of inflorescences per plant: Approximately 0 to 1. Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45° angle from vertical. Length: Approximately 20.5 cm. Diameter at midpoint: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent setose. Color: 146B with an overlay of N186A. Flower description: General description.—Type: Single, actinomorphic. Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globose. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 146C. Corolla.—Shape: Rotate. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Depth: Approximately 3.0 mm. Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open: 101C with small irregular patches of NN155D, primarily evident in sporadic fall flowering. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: NN155D. Calyx.—Shape: Cup-like. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 mm. Depth: Approximately 2.0 mm. Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper (inner) surface: 146C. Color of lower (outer) surface: 146C. Pedicel.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 146B. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity: 5 per flower, adnate to corolla. Anther shape: Winged. Anther length: Less than 1.0 mm. Anther color: N199C. Filament length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 145D. Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary shape: 4 lobed, deeply divided. Ovary color: N144C. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Brunnera has not been observed.