<i>Ajuga </i>plant named ‘Nobnig’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Ajuga plant named ‘Nobnig’ that is characterized by its foliage that is dark purple in color and remains dark and uniform in color throughout the cold winter months, its leaves that are glossy, its flowers that are blue in color, and its groundcover plant habit.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Ajuga plant named ‘Nobnig’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Ajuga as grown in a greenhouse in Hudsonville, Mich.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a 6-month-old plant of ‘Nobnig’ as grown in a 1-quart container.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of 3-months-old plants of ‘Nobnig’ as grown in 50-cell plugs.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of an inflorescence of ‘Nobnig’ as grown as a 6-month-old-plant grown in a 1-qt container.

(5) The 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 Ajuga.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed on 6-month-old plants as grown in a greenhouse in 4-inch containers in Hudsonville, Mich. 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 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Blooming period: 4 to 6 weeks commencing in late spring in Michigan. Plant type: Herbaceous perennial. Plant habit: Dense and rounded, groundcover, compact upright inflorescences. Height and spread: 16 cm in height (soil level to top of floral plane), an average of 7 cm in height (soil level to top of foliar plane) and 13 cm in width, mature plant in the landscape reaches an average of 10 cm in height and 46 cm in spread. Hardiness: At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8. Diseases and pests: Plants have been observed to be disease free, however no resistance to any specific diseases is known, no resistance or susceptibility to pests has been observed. Root description: Fine and fibrous, a blend of 158A and NN155A in color. Propagation type: Tip stem cuttings. Root development: An unrooted stem cutting will fully root in a 50-cell plug in 8 weeks and a 50-cell plug will fully root in a 1-gallon container in 10 weeks. Growth rate: Vigorous. Branching habit: Basal rosettes of leaves from rhizomes. Foliage description: Leaf shape.—Spatulate. Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf base.—Truncate to base of rhizome. Leaf apex.—Broadly acute to rounded, sometimes slightly notched. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, matches surface colors. Leaf margins.—Entire to slightly undulate. Leaf attachment and arrangement.—Whorled, held in in clumps. Leaf orientation.—Upright to slightly outward. Leaf surface.—Very finely puberulent on upper surface, slightly rough to the touch, both surfaces glossy, lower surface glabrous. Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137A and NN137A and heavily suffused with N187A, base 144A, young lower surface; N148A, maturing upper surface; 139A, flushed with 202A and 187A, maturing lower surface 139A, mature and winter upper surface; 138A, slightly flushed with 187A, mature and winter lower surface 138A. Leaf size.—Average of 6 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width. Leaf quantity.—Average of 40 in a clump 5 cm in diameter. Leaf attachment.—Sessile. Flower description: Inflorescence typel.—Verticillaster, terminal spike, individual flowers in clusters held in leaf-axils. Inflorescence size.—An average of 12 cm in height and 4 cm in width. Inflorescence number.—70 to 90 as a fully mature plant grown in a 1-gallon container. Lastingness of inflorescence.—10 to 14 days, self-cleaning. Flower type.—Labiate. Flower number.—Average of 60 per inflorescence. Flower fragrance.—Very faint, pleasant. Flower buds.—Oblanceolate in shape, average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter, color; immature bud 145A, mature bud 97C, immature calyx N187A, surface matte and densely covered with soft woolly pubescence up to 1 mm in length and 92D in color. Flower size.—Average of 1.4 cm in depth, 5 mm in diameter, throat 3 mm in diameter, tube 3 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Peduncles.—An average of 9 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter, vertical to curved at a 45° angle, moderately strong, color; 144A, surface is glossy and densely covered with soft woolly pubescent hairs up to 1 mm in length and matching surface color. Calyx.—Rotate and tubular in shape, 2 mm in length and diameter. Sepals.—5, 50% fused at base, average of 1 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width, ovate in shape, apex acute, entire margins, surface is covered with long woolly hairs matching surface color, color inner and outer surface 144C, tips 144A. Petals.—50% of petals fused into tube, upper central lobe; notched, average of 6 mm in length, 4 mm in width, blunt and rounded in shape, obtuse apex, entire margins, not undulate, upper and lower surface glabrous, slightly glossy and velvety, color; upper surface when opening and fully open 90A, streaked in middle 92C, lower surface when opening and fully open 97C, outer lobes; 2, average of 2 mm in length and width, oblanceolate in shape, apex is obtuse, entire margins, no undulation, upper and lower surface glabrous and slightly glossy, color; upper surface when opening and fully open 90A, streaked in middle 92C, lower surface when opening and fully open 97C, flower throat and tube; outer surface covered with woolly soft pubescence, inner surface is smooth and glabrous, color; inner and outer surface when opening and fully open 97D. Reproductive organs: Pistils.—1, style; 5 mm in length, 92D in color, stigma; non-distinguishable, ovary; oblong, 1 mm in length and width, NN155D in color. Stamens.—4, filament; implanted into flower tube, average of 3 mm in length, 92D in color, anthers; minute, 0.05 mm in diameter, 203A in color, pollen; very low in quantity, 9C in color. Fruit.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed to date.