Cercis Plant Named 'NC2017-8'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Cercis plant, referred to by its cultivar name ‘NC2017-8’, is disclosed. The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program. Plants of the new variety provide purple-colored flowers and exhibit small and purple colored foliage. The new variety displays a moderately slow growing, profuse branching, weeping and compact growth habit.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercis plant named ‘NC2017-8’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0019] 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 photograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘NC2017-8’. The plant in the photograph was approximately four years old and was growing in a test field in Cochranville, Pa.

[0020] The drawing illustrates a side view of ‘NC2017-8’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from chip budding and grown outside in Raleigh, N.C. Plants were approximately three years of age. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. [0024] Botanical classification: Cercis canadensis cultivar NC2017-8. [0025] Parentage: [0026] Female parent.—Cercis ‘Ruby Falls’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,097. [0027] Male parent.—Cercis ‘Ace of Hearts’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,161. [0028] Propagation: [0029] Type.—Chip budding. [0030] Plant description: [0031] Type.—Deciduous perennial tree. [0032] Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately slow growing, weeping, compact tree. [0033] Commercial crop time.—Approximately 1.5 years from budding to finish as a 2 to 3-foot tree. [0034] Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6b. [0035] Size.—Height of 3-year-old tree: Approximately 4 feet. Width: Approximately 4.9 feet. [0036] Trunk.—Texture: slightly rough. Color: 201B. [0037] Branches.—Densely branched. Branching habit: multi-branching, weeping architecture. Strength: Moderately strong. Diameter of one-year old growth: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stem Length of one-year old shoots: 22.5 cm. Internode length: 1.6 cm on average. Stem Shape: Circular. 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. Color of mature stem: previous seasons growth is N200B. Lenticel: numerous, tiny. Lenticel length: Less than 1.0 mm. Lenticel shape: circular to slightly elongate. Lenticel color: 197C. [0038] Foliage description: [0039] General description.—Type: Deciduous. Arrangement: Alternate. [0040] Leaves.—Shape of mature leaves: Cordate. Apex: Distinctly pointed. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Length to base of sinus: Approximately 4.0 cm. Length to end of lobe: Approximately 4.7 cm. Sinus indentation: Approximately 0.8 cm. Width: Approximately 4.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rugose. Venation pattern: Reticulate. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: N77A with indistinguishable venation. Color of under surface of mature foliage: N77B with venation of 147B. Color of upper and lower surfaces of immature foliage: 59A with indistinguishable venation. Fragrance: None detected. [0041] Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: N77A. [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: 5 per cluster on average. Flower length: 7.0 mm on average. Flower width across wings at anthesis: 4.0 mm on average. Flower depth (bottom of keel petals to top of wings): 4.0 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: 73A. 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 surface: 59B. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. [0048] Sepals.—Arrangement: Fused. [0049] Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Round. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 60B. [0050] Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: 10 on average, unfused. Stamen length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stamen width: Less than 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: 65A. Filament length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament width: Less than 1.0 mm. Filament color: 65A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 11B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 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: 59A. 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.