<i>Delphinium </i>plant named ‘ET DLP 824’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 824’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; relatively short internodes; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; moderately strong to strong flowering stems with dense inflorescences with numerous white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 824’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the Delphinium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Delphinium plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET DLP 824’ grown in an container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘ET DLP 824’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used for the following description were grown in 21-cm containers during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Delphinium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x belladonna) ‘ET DLP 824’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium elatum identified as code number 9-88, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium x belladonna identified as code number 102, not patented. Propagation: Type of propagation.—In vitro meristem culture. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 16 days at temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 21° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 25 days at temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 10° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five to six weeks at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 15° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically yellowish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial. Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 30 cm to 35 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 80 cm. Plant width.—About 50 cm to 55 cm. Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 4 cm. Stem strength.—Moderately strong to strong. Stem texture and luster.—Slightly pubescent; semi-glossy to matte. Stem color.—Close to 143C. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Single, alternate or slightly whorled towards the plant base. Leaf length.—About 9 cm to 10 cm. Leaf width.—About 15 cm. Shape.—Palmately lobed with three to five lobes per leaf; overall leaf shape, roughly ovate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cordate. Margin.—Entire and incised; lobes are shallow to moderate and divergent. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; rough and rugose; matte. Venation pattern.—Palmate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 144C. Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm to 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; semi-glossy to matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. Flower description: Flower arrangement and shape.—Double star-shaped flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; flowers face mostly outwardly. Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 40 flowers developing per inflorescence and more than 500 flowers per plant. Fragrance.—None detected. Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants flower continuously during the spring and summer in The Netherlands. Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent. Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy to matte. Color: Close to 142A. Inflorescence height.—About 35 cm to 40 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 13 cm. Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 6 cm. Flower height.—About 2.5 cm. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six to nine petals in whorls; petals imbricate. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 155B to 155C; central petals, close to 154D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 155B to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; central petals, close to 154D; venation, close to 155A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155B to 155C; venation, close to 155A. Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About three to five petaloids in a single whorl; petaloids imbricate. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; moderately undulate to undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155B to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; venation, close to 155A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155B to 155C; venation, close to 155A and distally, close to 144C. Peduncles.—Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 144A. Pedicels: Length: About 1.5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Aspect: About 30° to 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 144B. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25 to 30. Filament length: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 199B. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N199B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Four to five. Pistil length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Style color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 143C. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Delphinium. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Delphinium have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Delphinium plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Delphinium have exhibited good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from −20° C. to 40° C.