<i>Lagerstroemia </i>plant named ‘JBG 19003’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Lagerstroemia named ‘JBG 19003’ that is distinguishable by a compact plant habit, a form which is upright initially, becoming weeping or cascading when established and planted in the landscape, red flowers, foliage which is very dark brown to black in summer and red-brown in color in the fall, is very well-adapted to heat, humidity and drought conditions, and exhibits slight or occasional susceptibility to aphids, whitefly and powdery mildew, is described.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemia plant named ‘JBG 19003’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of Lagerstroemia cultivar ‘JBG 19003’ showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographs were taken in July 2022 in Grand Saline, Tex. from a fifteen-month-old plant grown outdoors in a 2-gallon container, with one pinch after initial cutting establishment and without any chemical growth regulators. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describes the actual colors of the new variety ‘JBG 19003’.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts an entire plant in flower of ‘JBG 19003’.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescence and flowers of ‘JBG 19003’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(4) The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘JBG 19003’. Observations, measurements, values, and comparisons were collected in July 2022 in Grand Saline, Tex. from a fifteen-month-old plant, growing outdoors in full sun in a 2-gallon container. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Classification: Family.—Lythraceae. Genus.—Lagerstroemia. Species.—Indica Common name.—Crape Myrtle. Parentage: Female parent.—Unknown Lagerstroemia indica plant. Male parent.—Unknown Lagerstroemia indica plant. Plant: Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings. Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous, fresh new roots are 19D and older, more mature or established roots are 161C. Vigor.—Moderate vigor. Time to develop roots.—12 days are needed for a cutting to develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20° to 22° Centigrade. Crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 months are required to produce a budded and flowering plant in a 2-gallon container. Larger containers require a longer period of growth in order to fill out. Flowering will continue throughout spring, summer and fall. Suggested container sizes.—2 gallon, 7-gallon. Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container plant. Type.—Flowering shrub. Overall dimensions.—After one year's growth in a container, plants of ‘JBG 19003’ are 60 cm in height and 45 cm in width. When well established in the landscape, plants of ‘JBG 19003’ are 1.2 m in height and 1.5 m in width. Cultural requirements.—Grow in full-sun with moderate water and well-draining container medium or in well-draining sandy loam in the landscape. Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6. Form.—Initially upright becoming weeping and cascading when well established in the landscape. Growth habit.—Compact. Blooming season.—Continually and repeat flowering from late spring until fall. Lastingness of blooms.—One week. Stems (below first pinch): Shape.—Round. Length.—2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter.—6 mm. Bark color.—199B. Texture.—Slightly rough or coarse. Branches: Quantity.—Approximately 40, of which 12 to 15 are primary branches and 25 or more are secondary branches. Branching habit.—Freely branching, branches initially upright then weeping or cascading with age. Shape.—Round. Length.—Primary branches 45 cm to 50 cm to base of inflorescence; secondary branches 30 cm to 35 cm. Diameter.—2 mm to 5 mm. Internode length.—2.5 cm. Color (juvenile growth).—184A. Color (mature growth).—199B. Surface.—Slightly rough. Strength.—Firm and wiry. Leaves: Type, arrangement.—Simple, alternate. Attachment.—Short petiolate. Quantity per branch.—12 to 18. Shape.—Elliptic. Length.—3.0 cm. Width.—1.6 cm. Margin.—Entire. Aspect.—Outward facing, angled towards apex. Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous. Glossiness of the adaxial surface.—Medium. Color.—Adaxial surface: 200A. Abaxial surface: 148A. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Acute. Venation.—Pinnate. Veins (adaxial surface).—Color 200B, raised above leaf surface. Veins (abaxial surface).—Color 148A, raised above leaf surface. Petiole: Shape.—Cylindrical. Length.—1 mm. Diameter.—1 mm. Color.—179B. Surface.—Smooth, glabrous. Strength.—Stiff and firm. Peduncle: Description.—Branches from each stem, subtends paniculate inflorescence. Shape.—Cylindrical. Length.—12 mm to 18 mm. Diameter.—1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. Texture.—Smooth. Color.—183C. Inflorescence: Type.—Panicle. Length.—8 cm to 10 cm. Width.—9.5 cm. Pedicels: Length.—12 mm. Diameter.—1 mm. Texture.—Smooth. Color.—183D. Calyx: Shape.—Campanulate. Height.—7 mm. Diameter.—9 mm. Sepals: Quantity.—6. Shape.—Acutely triangular. Length.—8 mm. Width at base.—3 mm. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Entire. Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth to very slightly rough. Color (both surfaces).—182C. Flowers: Quantity per plant.—250 to 300 buds and flowers. Shape.—Obovate. Fragrance.—None. Width of individual flower.—About 4.4 cm. Bud: Shape.—Globular to very slightly elongated. Dimensions.—6 mm to 7 mm in height and diameter. Surface.—Smooth. Color.—178B. Petals: Quantity.—6. Arrangement.—Free, rotate. Shape.—Orbicular. Length.—12 mm. Width.—14 mm. Apex.—Rounded. Base.—Reniform. Margin.—Smooth, undulating. Undulation of the petal.—Strong. Color (both surfaces).—61A. Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous. Reproductive organs: Stamens, filaments.—Quantity: 29. Arrangement: Upright tight cluster. Length: 10 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: 155C. Anthers.—Shape: Sulcate. Length: 2 mm to 3 mm. Width: 1.5 mm. Color: 23A. Pollen.—Amount: Moderate. Color: 24A. Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Dimensions: 8 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter. Stigma.—Shape: Club shaped. Length: 1 mm. Diameter: 0.75 mm to 1 mm. Color: 147C. Ovary.—Shape: Globular. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: 162D. Seed: None observed to date. Pest susceptibility: Slightly susceptible to aphids (Aphis gossypii) and occasionally to whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). In common with Lagerstroemia in general, ‘JBG 19003’ may become infected with crape myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae). Disease susceptibility: Slight incidence of powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Heat, humidity and drought tolerance: Very well adapted to heat, humidity and drought conditions.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN VARIETY

(5) When ‘JBG 19003’ is compared to the commercial Lagerstroemia indica variety ‘Red Filli’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,353), the form of ‘JBG 19003’ is upright initially, becoming weeping or cascading when established and planted in the landscape, while the form of ‘Red Filli’ is from spreading to flat spreading.