<i>Ajuga </i>plant named ‘Fanfin’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Ajuga plant named ‘Fanfin’ that is characterized by its foliage that emerge apricot-bronze in color, change to lime-yellow-green in color and finally mature to lime green in color with the foliage colors presented on a plant at the same time for a tri-colored effect, its winter foliage that is coppery bronze in color, its vigorous growth habit, its cobalt blue flowers that bloom in late spring, and its high resistance to sun scorch and thrives in full sun in the summer.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Ajuga plant named ‘Fanfin’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Ajuga as grown in a greenhouse in Hudsonville, Mich. The photographs in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 were taken of a 2-year-old plant of ‘Fanfin’ as grown in a 1-gallon container and the photograph in FIG. 3 was taken of a 1-year-old plant of ‘Fanfin’ as grown in a 1-quart container.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant ‘Fanfin’ in bloom.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Fanfin’.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the winter foliage of ‘Fanfin’.

(5) The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Ajuga.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed on 6-month-old plants of the new Ajuga as grown in 4-inch containers in a greenhouse in Hudsonville, Mich. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Blooming period.—4 to 6 weeks in late spring into summer in Michigan. Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial. Plant habit.—Dense and rounded, compact upright inflorescences. Height and spread.—13 cm in height (soil level to top of floral plane), an average of 9 cm in height (soil level to top of foliar plane) and 13 cm in width, a mature plant in the landscape reaches an average of 10 cm in height and 46 cm in spread. Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8. Diseases and pests.—Plants have been observed to be disease free, however no resistance to any specific diseases is known, no resistance or susceptibility to pests has been observed. Root description.—Fine and fibrous, a blend of 158A and NN155A in color. Propagation type.—Tip stem cuttings and division. Root development.—An unrooted stem cutting will fully root in a 50-cell plug in 8 weeks and a 50-cell plug will fully root in a 1-gallon container in 10 weeks. Growth rate.—Vigorous. Branching habit.—Basal rosettes of leaves from rhizomes. Foliage description: Leaf shape.—Spatulate. Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf base.—Truncate to base of rhizome. Leaf apex.—Broadly acute to rounded. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, matches surface colors. Leaf margins.—Entire to slightly undulate. Leaf attachment and arrangement.—Whorled, held in in clumps. Leaf orientation.—Emerge upright and then slightly outward. Leaf surface.—Very finely puberulent and slightly rough to the touch on upper and lower surface. Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137A, base N144A, young lower surface; 144A, mature upper surface; 144A, becoming flushed with 183A and then fully changing to 187A as the leaf ages, mature lower surface; 138B, becoming flushed with a blend of 185A and 186A as the leaf ages, winter foliage; blend of 187C, N144A, and 166C (effectively appearing bronze). Leaf size.—Average of 7 cm in length, 7 mm in width. Leaf quantity.—Average of 30 in a clump 1.5 cm in diameter. Leaf attachment.—Sessile. Flower description: Inflorescence type.—Verticillaster, terminal spike, individual flowers in clusters held in leaf-axils. Inflorescence size.—An average of 7 cm in height and 2.5 cm in width. Inflorescence number.—70 to 90 as a fully mature plant grown in a 1-gallon container. Lastingness of inflorescence.—10 to 14 days, self-cleaning. Flower type.—Labiate. Flower number.—Average of 30 per inflorescence. Flower fragrance.—None. Flower buds.—Oblanceolate in shape, average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter, color; 145C, at bud burst 91C, immature calyx 145C, surface matte and densely covered with soft woolly pubescence. Flower size.—Average of 1 cm in depth, 5 mm in diameter, throat diameter 2 mm, tube 4 mm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter. Peduncles.—An average of 5 cm in length, 2 mm in diameter, vertical angle, moderately strong, color; a blend of 145A, 186A and 185A, surface is glossy and sparsely covered with very short hairs that match surface color. Calyx.—Rotate and tubular in shape, 2 mm in length and diameter. Sepals.—5, 50% fused at base, average of 1.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width, ovate in shape, apex acute, entire margins, surface is covered with long woolly hairs matching surface color, color inner and outer surface 145A. Petals.—50% of petals fused into tube, upper central lobe; notched, average of 5 mm in length, 2 mm in width, blunt and rounded in shape, obtuse apex, entire margins, no undulation, upper and lower surface glabrous, slightly glossy, color; upper surface when opening and fully open 91B, flushed with 91A, veins 90A, lower surface when opening and fully open 91A, outer lobes; 2, average of 4 mm in length, 2 mm in width, oblanceolate in shape, apex is obtuse, entire margins, no undulation, upper and lower surface glabrous and slightly glossy, color; upper surface when opening and fully open 91B, flushed with 91A, veins 90A, flower throat; outer surface covered with woolly soft pubescence, inner surface is smooth and glabrous, color; inner and outer surface when opening and fully open 92B, flower tube; inner and outer surface glabrous, color inner and outer surface when opening and fully open 92D. Reproductive organs: Pistils.—1, style; 6 mm in length, 92D in color, base NN155D in color, stigma; non-distinguishable, ovary; oblong, 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width, NN155D in color. Stamens.—5, filament; implanted into flower tube, average of 5 mm in length, NN155D in color, anthers; club-shaped, 0.5 mm in diameter, 203A in color, pollen; none observed. Fruit.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed to date.