<i>Delphinium </i>plant named ‘ET DLP 808’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 808’, 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 violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 808’ 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 808’ 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 808’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used for the following description were grown in 26-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 808’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium elatum identified as code number 17-16, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium x belladonna identified as code number 2289, 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 50 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 80 cm. Plant width.—About 40 cm to 45 cm. Internode length.—About 2 cm to 8 cm. Stem strength.—Moderately strong to strong. Stem texture and luster.—Slightly pubescent; semi-glossy to matte. Stem color.—Close to 138B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Single, alternate or slightly whorled towards the plant base. Leaf length.—About 16 cm. Leaf width.—About 26 cm. Shape.—Palmately lobed with three to four lobes per leaf; overall leaf shape, roughly ovate to oblong. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Cordate. Margin.—Entire and incised; lobes are shallow to moderate and divergent. Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous; rugose. Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; rough and rugose. Venation pattern.—Palmate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 143B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 143B. Petioles.—Length: About 8 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 6 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 144A. 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 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy to matte. Color: Close to 142C. Inflorescence height.—About 35 cm to 45 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 19 cm. Flower diameter.—About 7 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 4 cm. Width: About 2.5 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 N88A; central petals, close to 155A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 92A; towards the margins, close to N88A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N88A; central petals, close to 155A; venation, close to 76A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 76A; towards the margins, close to 77A. Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About three to five petaloids in a single whorl; petaloids imbricate. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to between N88A and N88B. When opening, lower surface: Close to N88C; stripe and apex, close to 143C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N88A; towards the base, close to N88C; venation, close to 76A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between N88B and N88C; stripe and apex, close to 143C; venation, close to 76A. Peduncles.—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 138B. Pedicels.—Length: About 4 cm to 17 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte to glossy. Color: Close to 144A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25 to 30. Filament length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N199D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Five to ten. Pistil length: About 6 mm to 12 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 85B. Style length: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Style color: Close to N82A. Ovary color: Close to 143B. 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.