<i>Ajuga </i>plant named ‘Parpar’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Ajuga plant named ‘Parpar’ that is characterized by its foliage that emerges dark burgundy in color and matures to yellow-green with apricot-burgundy colors as they mature; creating multi-colored foliage that exists at the same time, its foliage that is vibrant red in winter, and its high resistance to sun scorch and thrives in full sun in the summer in Michigan.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Ajuga plant named ‘Parpar’ 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.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of a 2-year-old plant of ‘Parpar’ starting to bloom as grown in a 1-gallon container.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of a 2-year-old plant of ‘Parpar’ as grown in a 1-gallon container.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a top view of the winter foliage of 6-month-old plants of ‘Parpar’ as grown in 50-cell plugs.

(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 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. Blooming period: 14 to 6 weeks in late spring into summer in Michigan. Plant type: Herbaceous perennial. Plant habit: Dense, groundcover, compact upright inflorescences. Height and spread: 11 cm in height (soil level to top of floral plane), an average of 7.5 cm in height (soil level to top of foliar plane) and 17 cm in width, a mature plant in the landscape reaches an average of 10 cm in height and 46 cm in spread. 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: 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, sometimes notched. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, matches surface colors. Leaf margins.—Moderately undulate. Leaf attachment and arrangement.—Whorled, held in in clumps. Leaf orientation.—Emerge upright and then outward and bending downwards. Leaf surface.—Very finely puberulent on upper surface, slightly rough to the touch, glossy, lower surface glabrous and glossy, base of leaves covered with long woolly pubescence up to 3 mm in length and NN155D in color. Leaf color.—Young and mature upper surface; 138A, becoming flushed with 175A and 187A, and then fully changing to 187A as the leaf ages, base 184C, young and mature lower surface; 148B, main vein and base of leaf becomes very lightly flushed with a blend of 184C as the leaf ages, peduncle leaves; upper and lower surface base 92D, center, margins and top 187B and 184A, winter upper and lower surfaces; a blend of 70A and 187A. Leaf size.—Average of 9 cm in length, 3 cm in width. Leaf quantity.—Average of 30 in a clump 4 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 4 cm in width. Inflorescence number.—An average of 45 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 35 per inflorescence. Flower fragrance.—None. Flower buds.—Oblanceolate in shape, average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter, color; smaller immature buds 150D, larger maturing buds 91A to 91B, immature calyx 91A to 91B, surface matte and densely covered with long, soft woolly pubescence up to 3 mm in length and matching surface colors. Flower size.—Average of 1.3 cm in depth, 1 cm in diameter, throat 2.5 mm in diameter, tube 8 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter. Peduncles.—An average of 4.5 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter, vertical angle, moderately strong, color; 145D, surface is very densely covered with long woolly hairs; up to 3 mm in length, translucent and matching surface color. Calyx.—Rotate and tubular in shape, 2 mm in length and diameter. Sepals.—5, 55% fused at base, average of 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width, ovate in shape, apex acute, entire margins, surface is heavily covered with long woolly hairs 92B and NN155D in color and translucent, color; inner and outer surface 91B and 91D, tips 145A. Petals.—55% of petals fused into tube, upper central lobe; notched, average of 7 mm in length, 7 mm in width, rounded in shape, obtuse apex, entire margins with no undulation, upper and lower surface glabrous, satiny, color; upper surface when opening and fully open N89C, edges N89A, striped in center 91C, lower surface when opening and fully open 92A and 92B, outer lobes; 2, average of 5 mm in length, 3 mm in width, oblanceolate in shape, apex is obtuse, entire margins, no undulation, upper and lower surface glabrous and velvety, color; N89C, edges N89A, lower surface when opening and fully open 92A and 92B, flower throat and tube; outer surface covered with woolly soft pubescence, inner surface is smooth and glabrous, color; inner and outer surface when opening and fully open 92B. Reproductive organs: Pistils.—1, style; 6 mm in length, 91C 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, top N89A, mid-section to base 91C in color, anthers; club-shaped, 0.5 mm in diameter, 203A in color, pollen; moderate in quantity, 23B in color. Fruit.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed to date.