<i>Rudbeckia </i>plant named ‘ET RDB 803’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Rudbeckia plant named ‘ET RDB 803’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; dense and bushy growth habit; freely flowering habit; large long-lasting single-type inflorescences with yellow-colored ray florets positioned above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Rudbeckia plant named ‘ET RDB 803’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rudbeckia 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 Rudbeckia plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET RDB 803’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘ET RDB 803’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 2.5-liter containers during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural conditions typical of commercial Rudbeckia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to about 24° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 8° C. to about 15° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea X Rudbeckia hirta ‘ET RDB 803’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea purpurea identified as code designation YL15, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Rudbeckia hirta identified as code designation 178-2, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By in vitro meristem culture. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to eight days at substrate temperatures about 15 ° C. and ambient temperatures about 20° C. Time to produce a rooted young plants, summer.—About four weeks at substrate temperatures about 15° C. and ambient temperatures about 20° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness; fleshy; color, typically close to 162C, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Plant height.—About 70 cm. Plant width.—About 50 cm to 60 cm. Lateral branches (peduncles).—Length: About 18 cm to 30 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 7 cm. Angle: Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A sparsely covered with spots, close to 187A. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Mostly alternate to occasionally opposite, simple; sessile. Length.—About 15 cm. Width.—About 7 cm. Shape.—Oblanceolate to obovate. Apex.—Acute to acuminate. Base.—Attenuate to acute. Margin.—Dentate; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145A. Inflorescence description: Type and arrangement.—Single-type inflorescence form with linear to oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets; inflorescences borne on terminal and axillary peduncles above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face upright to slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance.—None detected. Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower continuously from mid-July until the end of October in The Netherlands. Inflorescence longevity.—Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences lasting about eight to ten weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent. Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, typically more than 30 inflorescences per plant. Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Round to ovoid. Color: Close to 137C. Inflorescences.—Diameter: About 5 cm to 10 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Receptacle height: About 0.5 cm to 2 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 0.7 cm to 1.5 cm. Receptacle color: Close to 200A. Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: More than 40 in about two to three whorls. Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Linear to oblanceolate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Rough, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 12C; towards the base, close to 13B; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 12C; venation, close to 12C; color does not change with subsequent development. Disc florets.—Arrangement: Numerous disc florets massed at center of receptacle. Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Obtuse. Color, when opening and fully opened: Apex: Close to 200A. Mid-section: Close to 200A. Base: Close to 200A. Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 10 to 20 arranged in about two to three whorls. Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Fused to receptacle. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rough, pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A. Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc florets): Quantity per floret: Numerous. Filament length: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Filament color: Close to 200A. Anther shape: Round. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 200A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 13A. Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Pistil length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: Close to 200A. Style length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Style color: Close to 200B. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the new Rudbeckia. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Rudbeckia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Rudbeckia plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures from about −20° C. to about 40° C.