Vaccinium Plant Named 'Vacbri2'

Abstract

A new cultivar of Vaccinium plant named ‘Vacbri2’ that is characterized by its young foliage that emerges pink in color and its maturing and mature foliage that is variegated with creamy white speckles.

Claims

1: A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plant named ‘Vacbri2’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Vaccinium. The photographs were taken of 2 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Elma, Wash.

[0011] The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the foliage of ‘Vacbri2’.

[0012] The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a view of ‘Vacbri2’ in bloom.

[0013] The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of a production block of ‘Vacbri2’.

[0014] The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the new Vaccinium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

[0015] The following is a detailed description of 2-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in Elma, Wash. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2007 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. [0016] General plant characteristics: [0017] Blooming period.—Late spring in in Elma, Wash. [0018] Plant type.—Evergreen shrub. [0019] Plant habit.—Semi-erect. [0020] Height and spread.—Average of 30 cm in height, 38.1 cm in width as a 2-year-old plant in a one-gallon container and 1.2 m in height and width as a mature plant in the landscape. [0021] Hardiness.—Hardy in at least U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 8. [0022] Disease and pest resistance.—No susceptibility or resistance to diseases or has been observed. [0023] Root description.—Fibrous. [0024] Growth rate.—Moderate. [0025] Propagation.—Tissue culture. [0026] Root development.—A tissue culture plantlet will root in a small plug in 3 months and a transplanted rooted plug with finish in a liner in 5 to 6 months. [0027] Stem description: [0028] Stem shape.—Rounded. [0029] Stem color.—Young; 47B to 47C and occasionally 144A and 161A, mature; 181B, old stems and bark; 165A, fissures 165B. [0030] Branching.—Medium to strongly branched, an average of 1 main branch and 10 lateral stems. [0031] Stem surface.—Older stems matte, younger stems moderately glossy, all stems moderately to densely covered with pubescent hairs, an average of 1 mm in length and 161C in color. [0032] Stem size.—An average of 31.8 cm in length, 2.6 mm in width. [0033] Stem strength.—Medium to strong. [0034] Internodes.—2.5 cm in length. [0035] Foliage description: [0036] Leaf shape.—Ovate. [0037] Leaf division.—Simple. [0038] Leaf base.—Rounded. [0039] Leaf apex.—Acute. [0040] Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color on upper and lower surfaces matches leaf coloration. [0041] Leaf margins.—Entire. [0042] Leaf attachment.—Petiolate. [0043] Leaf arrangement.—Alternate. [0044] Leaf orientation.—Held slightly upward. [0045] Leaf surface.—Both surfaces moderately glossy, sparsely pubescent. [0046] Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves upper surface; spring 52B to 52C, summer 35A to 35B, newly expanded leaves lower surface; spring 52A, summer 37B, mature leaves upper surface; 147A, mature leaves lower surface; 147C, young variegated leaves upper surface; 144A mottled with N144A, 150B, and 8B, young variegated leaves lower surface; 191A mottled with 144B, 145D and 6D, mature variegated leaves upper surface; NN137A mottled with closest to 144B to 144C and 4C, mature variegated leaves lower surface; 138C mottled with 145C and 145D. [0047] Leaf size.—Average of 2.3 cm in length, 1.3 cm in width. [0048] Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 2.3 mm in length and 1.2 mm in width, 145B in color, glabrous surface. [0049] Stipules.—None observed. [0050] Inflorescence description: [0051] Bloom season.—Buds burst mid-April in Elma, Washington, flowering begins in May in Elma, Wash. as grown in a greenhouse, bud burst and bloom time are highly variable depending on season. [0052] Inflorescence type.—Cluster. [0053] Inflorescence size.—Average of 3.1 cm in length 3.0 cm in width. [0054] Lastingness of inflorescence.—Average of 28 days but highly dependent on air temperatures. [0055] Number of flowers.—Average of 10 per inflorescence, range of 6 to 12. [0056] Flower fragrance.—None to slight. [0057] Flower size.—Average of 8.2 mm in length and 6.3 mm in width. [0058] Flower buds.—10 per inflorescence, ovate in shape, 6 mm in length and 4 mm in width, 46D in color. [0059] Corolla.—Urceolate in shape, comprised of 5 fused petals with tip free and curled under, average of 8.2 mm in length and 6.3 mm in width, aperture is an average of 3.4 mm in diameter, color NN155A on outer and inner surface with outer surface sometimes tinged with 51A with sun exposure, glabrous texture on both surfaces. [0060] Calyx.—Campanulate, comprised of 5 fused sepals with lobes free at apex, average of 8 mm in diameter, free sepal lobes an average of about 3 mm in length and 3.5 mm in width at anthesis, color 144A to 144B on outer and inner surface and tinged at the distil end with 51A with sun exposure, surface glabrous, entire margins. [0061] Pedicels.—Round, average of 5.5 mm in length and 1.1 mm in width, closest to 143D in color and slightly suffused with 51A, surface is glabrous. [0062] Peduncles.—Round, an average of 7 mm in length and 1.6 mm in width, closest to 144C in color, surface is glabrous. [0063] Reproductive organs: [0064] Androecium.—10 stamens, stamens are 6 mm in length, anthers are 9A in color and 1 mm in length, filaments are 5 mm in length and 145C in color, pollen is moderate in abundance and 9A in color. [0065] Gynoecium.—1 pistil, style is cone-shaped, an average of 8 mm in length (approximately equal to tip of corolla) and 145B in color, ovary 144A in color. [0066] Fruit description: [0067] Type.—Berry. [0068] Number.—4 to 10 per cluster. [0069] Cluster tightness.—Medium. [0070] Skin color.—Immature 138B, maturing a blend of 93A and 103A. [0071] Fruit use.—Not grown for fruit production. [0072] Fruit bearing season.—Mid to late summer in Elma, Wash. [0073] Fruit size.—Medium to large, an average of 4 mm in diameter and height. [0074] Fruit shape.—Globose. [0075] Persistence of calyx.—Not persistent. [0076] Fruit surface.—Glossy, smooth, glabrous. [0077] Color of flesh.—194A to 194C. [0078] Seeds.—Oblong to oval in shape, numerous, less than 1 mm in length and width, 171B in color.