Cercis Plant Named 'NC2014-5'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Cercis plant, referred to by its cultivar name, ‘NC2014-5’, is disclosed. The new variety is characterized by its profusion of light-purplish-pink-colored flowers. Small, green colored foliage which aligns in an attractive overlapping pattern along the stem is formed and moderately slow growing, upright, dwarf growth habit is displayed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercis plant named ‘NC2014-5’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0018] The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical growth habit, flowering 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 ‘NC2014-5’. The plants in the photographs were approximately four years old and were growing in a test field in Cochranville, Pa.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of ‘NC2014-5’

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates flowering of ‘NC2014-5’

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage of ‘NC2014-5’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0022] 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.

[0023] The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values of the flowers were determined in spring 2019. Color values of the foliage were determined in summer 2019 under natural light conditions in Jackson Springs, N.C.

[0024] The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from chip budding and grown outside in Jackson Springs, N.C. Plants were approximately four years of age. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. [0025] Botanical classification: Cercis canadensis cultivar NC2014-5. [0026] Parentage: [0027] Female parent.—Cercis ‘Texas White’, not patented. [0028] Male parent.—Cercis ‘Ace of Hearts’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,161. [0029] Propagation: [0030] Type.—Chip budding. [0031] Plant description: [0032] Type.—Deciduous perennial tree. [0033] Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately slow growing, upright, dwarf tree. [0034] Commercial crop time.—Approximately 1.5 years from budding to finish as a 2 to 3-foot tree. [0035] Size.—Height of 4-year old tree: Approximately 1.4 meters. Width: Approximately 76.2 cm. [0036] Trunk.—Texture: slightly rough. Color: 201B. [0037] Branches.—Densely branched. Strength: Moderately strong. Diameter of one-year old growth: Approximately 4.0 mm. Internode length: 2.1 cm on average. Growth pattern: slightly zigzag, deviating less than 5 degrees from vertical at each node. Texture of new growth: Slightly rugose. Color of young stem: N77A to 200C when hardened off. Color of mature stem: previous seasons growth is N199B. Lenticel: numerous, tiny. Lenticel length: Less than 1.0 mm. Lenticel shape: circular to slightly elongate. Lenticel color: 164B. [0038] Foliage description: [0039] General description.—Type: Deciduous. Arrangement: Alternate. [0040] Leaves.—Shape of immature leaves: Suborbicular. Shape of mature leaves: broad-ovate. Apex: Moderately to distinctly pointed. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Length to base of sinus: Approximately 5.1 cm. Length to end of lobe: Approximately 6.5 cm. Sinus indentation: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Reticulate. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: N137A with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: N138B with indistinguishable venation. Fragrance: None detected. [0041] Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A. [0042] Flowering description: [0043] Flowering season.—Flowers in early spring for about 2-3 weeks depending on weather conditions. [0044] General description.—Form: Fasicle. Flower Arrangement: Sessile clusters. Symmetry: Bilateral symmetry. Type: Papilionaceous. Quantity per cluster: 6 per cluster on average. Flower length: 8.0 mm on average. Flower width across wings at anthesis: 5.0 mm on average. Flower depth (bottom of keel petals to top of wings): 2.0 mm on average. [0045] Bud just before opening.—Shape: slightly elongate. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color: 59B. Texture: Glabrous. [0046] Petals.—Quantity: 5, unfused. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of banner, wings, and keel base when first and fully open: 73B. Color of keel tip when first and fully open: 61B. [0047] Calyx.—Shape: vase-shaped. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm at top of hypanthium. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color of outer and inner surfaces: 59C. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. [0048] Sepals.—Arrangement: Fused. [0049] Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Round. Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 60C. [0050] Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: 10 on average, unfused. Stamen length: 6.0 mm. Stamen width: Less than 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: 65A. Filament length: Less than 1.0 mm. Filament width: Less than 1.0 mm. Filament color: 65A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 11B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: Approximately 4.4 mm on average. Pistil width: Less than 1.0 mm. Pistil texture: Glabrous. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: 59D. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma width: Less than 1.0 mm. Style shape: round. Style width: Less than 1.0 mm. Style color: 65A. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape: Elongate. Ovary length: Less than 1.0 mm. Ovary width: Less than 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 59A. [0051] Seed production.—None observed to date. [0052] Disease and pest resistance.—Plants of the new Cercis have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cercis.