Celosia plant named 'Bkcelfrd'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Celosia plant named BKCELFRD, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; moderately freely basal branching habit; green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; red-colored flowers arranged on conical compound spikes; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named BKCELFRD as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0023] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Celosia plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant oBKCELFRD grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences and leaves of BKCELFRD.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0024] The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Celosia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 19 C. to 22 C. and night temperatures ranged from about 17 C. to 19 C. Plants were pinched one time and were 13 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. [0025] Botanical classification: Celosia plumosa BKCELFRD. [0026] Parentage: [0027] Female, or seed, parent.Proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 1401242, not patented. [0028] Male, or pollen, parent.Unknown selection of Celosia plumosa, not patented. [0029] Propagation: [0030] Type.By cuttings. [0031] Time to initiate roots, summer.About 16 days at temperatures ranging from about 19 C. to 21 C. [0032] Time to initiate roots, winter.About 19 days at temperatures ranging from about 19 C. to 21 C. [0033] Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 21 days at temperatures ranging from about 19 C. to 21 C. [0034] Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.About 23 days at temperatures ranging from about 19 C. to 21 C. [0035] Root description.Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. [0036] Rooting habit.Moderately freely branching; medium density. [0037] Plant description: [0038] Plant form and growth habit.Herbaceous annual typically grown as a potted plant; broadly upright plant habit; moderately freely branching habit with about three basal branches each with secondary lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit. [0039] Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.About 17 cm. [0040] Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.About 21.8 cm. [0041] Plant width (spread).About 22.4 cm. [0042] Lateral branches.Length: About 9.7 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, developed: Close to 145C tinged with close to 52B to 52C. [0043] Leaf description: [0044] Arrangement.Alternate; simple. [0045] Length.About 11.2 cm. [0046] Width.About 5.9 cm. [0047] Shape.Ovate. [0048] Apex.Apiculate. [0049] Base.Attenuate. [0050] Margin.Entire. [0051] Texture and luster, upper surface.Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. [0052] Texture and luster, lower surface.Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. [0053] Venation pattern.Pinnate. [0054] Color.Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation, close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 144A. [0055] Petioles.Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. [0056] Flower description: [0057] Flower type and arrangement.Single rotate flowers arranged in conical terminal compound spikes; flowers sessile; flowers face upright to slightly outwardly; flowers do not fully open and remain in flower bud form. [0058] Flowering habit.Freely flowering habit with about 90,000 flower buds developing per plant during the flowering season. [0059] Fragrance.None detected. [0060] Natural flowering season.Plants begin flowering about 58 days after planting; flowering continuous from spring into the autumn in The Netherlands. [0061] Postproduction longevity.Inflorescences of the new Celosia have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for about 60 days; flowers persistent. [0062] Inflorescence height.About 9.3 cm. [0063] Inflorescence diameter.About 6.5 cm. [0064] Flower diameter.About 3.5 mm. [0065] Flower height.About 6 mm. [0066] Flower buds.Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 31D. [0067] Petals.None observed. [0068] Sepals.Quantity and arrangement: Typically ten per flower arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Luster, inner and outer surfaces: Glossy. Color: When opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 60D. Fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 60D; color becoming closer to 62D with development. [0069] Flower bracts.Quantity per flower: Typically one. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 0.4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to between 53A and 60A. [0070] Peduncles.Length: About 8.6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 38C to 38D. [0071] Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 199D. Anther size: About 0.3 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 199D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 161D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 3 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 61A. Style length: About 2.7 mm. Style color: Close to 61A. Ovary color: Close to 61A. [0072] Seeds and fruits.Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Celosia. [0073] Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia plants. [0074] Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and high temperatures of about 35 C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.