Veronica plant named ‘Florverblue’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named Florverblue, characterized by its violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named Florverblue, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower 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 Florverblue. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for 16 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium and then transplanted in the field for one week. Plants were pinched two weeks after transplant into the container.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of Florverblue.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of Florverblue.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) 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.

(5) 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 were determined in June 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for 16 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium and then transplanted in the field for one week. Plants were pinched two weeks after transplant into the container. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45 F. to 65 F. (7.2 C. to 18.3 C.) during the day and approximately 35 F. to 45 F. (1.7 C. to 7.2 C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Veronica austriaca cultivar Florverblue. Parentage: Female and male parent.Veronica austriaca Knallblau, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 10 to 12 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.Approximately 4 to 5 weeks. Root description.Fibrous. Rooting habit.Freely branching. Plant description: Commercial crop time.Approximately 16 to 18 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot. During this period, at least 5 weeks below 45 F. during the night is required to initiate flowering. Growth habit and general appearance.Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded. Size.Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 26.0 cm. Width: Approximately 30.0 cm. Branching habit.Freely branching, pinching enhances basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 6. Branch.Strength: Moderate. Branch height to bottom on inflorescence: Approximately 15.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with appressed and curled hairs. Color of young and mature stem: 147C. Foliage description: General description.Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 12. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite. Leaves.Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Broadly accute. Base: Rounded, sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent with appressed hairs. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with appressed and curled hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B. Venation of upper and lower surface: 147C. Flowering description: Flowering habit.Florverblue flowers during early spring to late spring under outdoor conditions. Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.Approximately 7 days. Inflorescence description: General description.Type: Terminal raceme, self-cleaning. Fragrance: Faint. Height: Approximately 10.0 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity per plant: Approximately 7. Peduncle.Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with appressed and curled hairs. Color: 147B. Flower description: General description.Type: Single, campanulate. Aspect: Outward. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 9. Bud.Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 7. Bud just before opening.Shape: Oblong. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 94A. Corolla.Height: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Petals.Quantity: 4, in a single whorl. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate, lower 1.0 mm fused. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm on a single flower. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm to 6.0 mm on a single flower. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: 94A with NN155D at tube opening. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 94B with NN155D at base. Color of upper surface when fully open: Between 94A and 94B with venation of 94A and NN155D at tube opening. Tube length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Tube opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color of whiskers surrounding tube opening: NN155D. Caylx.Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Sepals.Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Lanceolate, fused at base. Apex: Acute. Length: Two larger sepals approximately 4.0 mm and two smaller sepals approximately 2.0 mm. Width: Two larger sepals approximately 2.0 mm and two smaller sepals approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with appressed hairs. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 137A. Pedicel.Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Approximately 45 angle from vertical. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with appressed and curled hairs. Color: 147B. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per flower. Stamen length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D with an overlay of 94B on upper half. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 93B. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Stigma shape: Clavate. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 160B. Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 93B. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Veronica has not been observed.