<i>Spiraea </i>plant named ‘SMNSJSA’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea plant named ‘SMNSJSA’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit; leaves that are initially reddish orange in color, becoming bright greenish yellow and eventually darker yellow green with development; inflorescences with numerous bright purplish red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Spiraea plant named ‘SMNSJSA’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Spiraea 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 colors of the new Spiraea plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMNSJSA’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMNSJSA’ grown in a container.

(4) The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of typical developing leaves of ‘SMNSJSA’.

(5) The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘SMNSJSA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in three-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Spiraea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Spiraea japonica ‘SMNSJSA’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Spiraea japonica, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Spiraea japonica, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 27° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About ten weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 27° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate. Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about 30 lateral branches developing per plant; pinching (removal of terminal apices) will enhance lateral branch development; dense and bushy habit. Plant height.—About 50 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 65 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.—About 40 cm. Diameter.—About 3 mm. Internode length.—About 1.5 cm. Strength.—Strong. Aspect.—About 30° to 80° from vertical. Texture, developing.—Slightly pubescent. Texture, developed.—Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing.—Close to 144C. Color, developed.—Close to 165A. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate; simple. Length.—About 4.5 cm. Width.—About 2 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Attenuate. Margin.—Serrate. Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous, prominent venation. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 173A and 173B becoming closer to 151D with development; venation, close to 174B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between 176B and 177A becoming closer to 166B and eventually, close to 144A with development; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 177B becoming closer to 138B with development; venation, close to 144C. Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 174B. Color, fully expanded, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Flower description: Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged in terminal corymbs; freely flowering habit with usually about 150 to 200 flowers per inflorescence; flowers face upright to slightly outwardly depending on position on inflorescence. Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from late spring through the summer (May through July) in Michigan; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, sweet. Inflorescence height.—About 1.5 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm. Flower diameter.—About 5 mm. Flower depth.—About 3 mm. Flower buds.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Color: Close to 182B. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 71A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 77C and towards the margins, close to 71A. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl; fused at the base. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 73D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 73D. Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from lateral branch axis. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 145B. Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 145B. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About 30. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 71A. Anther shape: Globose. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 71A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: About five. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Style length: About 1.75 mm. Style color: Close to 71A. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color: Close to 71A. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the new Spiraea. Garden performance: Plants of the new Spiraea have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −31° C. to about 38° C. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Spiraea have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Spiraea plants.