Cercis Plant Named 'NC2014-10'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Cercis plant, referred to by its cultivar name ‘NC2014-10’, is disclosed. The new variety is characterized by its profusion of bright, purple-colored flowers. Plants of the new variety exhibit golden colored, semi-glossy foliage that transitions to green as it ages, and provide moderately vigorous, semi-upright, and semi-compact growth habit.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercis plant named ‘NC2014-10’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0018] The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type the typical growth habit 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 ‘NC2014-10’. The plant in the photograph was approximately three years old and was growing in a test field in Jackson Springs, N.C.

[0019] The drawing illustrates a side view of a tree of ‘NC2014-10’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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. [0023] Botanical classification: Cercis canadensis cultivar NC2014-10. [0024] Parentage: [0025] Female parent.—Cercis ‘Texas White’, not patented. [0026] Male parent.—Cercis ‘Hearts of Gold’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,740. [0027] Propagation: [0028] Type.—Chip budding. [0029] Plant description: [0030] Type.—Deciduous perennial tree. [0031] Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, semi-upright, and semi-compact growth habit. [0032] Commercial crop time.—Approximately 1.5 years from budding to finish as a 5 to 6-foot tree. [0033] Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6b. [0034] Size.—Height of 4-year-old tree: Approximately 7.5 feet. Width: Approximately 5 feet wide. [0035] Trunk.—Texture: Rough. Color: Mostly 201A with some spots of N200D. [0036] Branches.—Strength: Moderately strong. Diameter of one-year old growth: Approximately 6.0 mm. Stem length of one year old shoots: 22.0 cm. Internode length: 2.0 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: 165A to 200B when hardened off. Lenticel: numerous, tiny. Lenticel length: Less than 1.0 mm. Lenticel shape: circular to slightly elongate. Lenticel color: 164B. [0037] Foliage description: [0038] General description.—Type: Deciduous. Arrangement: Alternate. [0039] Leaves.—Shape of immature leaves: Suborbicular. Shape of mature leaves: broad-ovate. Apex: Rounded to slightly pointed. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Length to base of sinus: Approximately 8.2 cm. Length to end of lobe: Approximately 11.8 cm. Sinus indentation: Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 13.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Reticulate. Color of upper surface of immature foliage: N144A to 144A with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface of immature foliage: 151B to 144B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 143A with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with indistinguishable venation. Fragrance: None detected. [0040] Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color of immature petiole: 35B. Color of mature petiole: 16C. [0041] Flowering description: [0042] Flowering season.—Flowers in early spring for about 2-3 weeks depending on weather conditions. [0043] General description.—Form: Fasicle. Flower Arrangement: Sessile clusters. Symmetry: Bilateral symmetry. Type: Papilionaceous. Quantity per cluster: 6 per cluster on average. Flower length: 1.3 cm on average. Flower width across wings at anthesis: 8.0 mm on average. Flower depth (bottom of keel petals to top of wings): 1.0 cm on average. [0044] Bud just before opening.—Shape: Slightly elongate. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: 167D. Texture: Glabrous. [0045] Petals.—Quantity: 5, unfused. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color when first and fully open: 72C. [0046] Calyx.—Shape: vase-shaped. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm at top of hypanthium. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color of outer surface: 560D. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. [0047] Sepals.—Arrangement: Fused. [0048] Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Round. Length: Approximately 7.6 mm. Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 64B. [0049] Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: 10 on average, unfused. Stamen length: 9.0 mm. Stamen width: Less than 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: 47D. Filament length: 9.0 mm. Filament width: Less than 1.0 mm. Filament color: 62C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 11B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm on average. Pistil width: Less than 1.0 mm. Pistil texture: Glabrous. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: 62C. 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: 63B. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape: Elongate. Ovary length: 2.0 mm. Ovary width: Less than 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 64C. [0050] Seed production:—None observed to date. [0051] Disease and pest resistance:—Plants of the new Cercis have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cercis.