<i>Eupatorium perfoliatum </i>plant named ‘Blind Date’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Eupatorium perfoliatum ‘Blind Date’ plant as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination larger and darker colored foliage, taller height, and more vigorous plants compared to the seed parent.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Eupatorium perfoliatum ‘Blind Date’ plant as illustrated and described, characterized by the combination larger and darker colored foliage, taller height, and more vigorous plants compared to the seed parent.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) FIG. 1. A budded stem on a 2 year old plant in July.

(2) FIG. 2. A flowering plant in August.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition. Plants used for the description were grown for two seasons at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Eupatorium perfoliatum ‘Blind Date’. Parentage: Male or pollen parent an unknown Eupatorium, female or seed parent, Eupatorium perfoliatum ‘Milk and Cookies’. Propagation: Vegetative division and stem cutting propagation. Root description: Fibrous, thin thickness, white in color. Root habit: Moderate branching, moderate density. Plant description: Herbaceous perennial. Overall habit of the new Eupatorium perfoliatum is an upright clump, with branching stems topped by white inflorescences starting in August. Plant height.—120 cm. Plant width.—75 cm. Primary stem diameter.—9 mm. Primary and secondary stem description.—Branching, with 20 or more leaves per secondary stem. Leaves get smaller as they go up the stem. Strength — strong. Primary and lateral stem texture.—Rugose with shorts stiff hairs 1-2 mm in length. Secondary stem description.—Average 10 lateral stems per primary stem. Secondary stem length.—60 cm. Secondary stem diameter.—5 mm. Secondary stem internodes.—5 cm. Stem color.—187 B. Foliage: Type.—Herbaceous, simple. Leaf arrangement.—Connate, perfoliate. Length.—11 cm. Width.—4 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Truncate, fused around the stem at times. Margin.—Dentate. Adaxial texture.—Glabrous. Abaxial Texture — rugose with shorts stiff hairs 1-2 mm in length. Venation.—Arcuate. Spring Venation Color — 186 D; Summer Venation Color — 137 A. Adaxial leaf description.—Spring color is 187 B including developing, fully expanded. Summer color is 137 A. Fall color is 59 A. Abaxial leaf description.—Spring color is 187 B including developing, fully expanded. Summer color is 137 B. Fall color is 59 A. Bud: Bud shape.—Oblong. Bud length.—7 mm. Bud diameter.—7 mm. Bud color.—155 C. Inflorescence: Inflorescence type.—Cymose panicle of composite inflorescences comprised of disc florets on branched flowering stems. Position.—Borne on both terminal and axillary peduncles above the foliage. Number of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 7000. Arrangement.—Disc florets. Mature center disc.—5 mm wide and 5 mm height. Number of disc florets.—13. Immature disc floret color.—Close to 155 C. Mature disc floret color.—Close to N155 C. Disc floret diameter.—1 mm or less at apex, less than 1 mm at base. Disc floret shape.—Tubular, corolla is fused. Disc floret length.—6 mm. Disc floret width.—1 mm. Disc floret apex.—Acute. Disc floret margin.—Entire. Disc floret count.—15-20. Overall inflorescence size.—16 cm or more across in diameter with disc florets, 26 cm in height. Bloom period and duration.—August into September. 4-6 weeks on the plant. Blooming habit.—Upright on 120 cm terminal flowering stems. Phyllaries: Number of phyllaries per inflorescence.—10 average. Length.—6 mm. Width.—1 mm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Mucronate. Base.—Fused. Margin.—Entire. Texture.—Both upper and lower surface glabrous. Color.—Adaxial 155 C and Abaxial 155 C. Peduncles: Length.—Of both terminal 30 cm and axillary peduncles 15 cm. Diameter.—Of both terminal 5 mm and axillary peduncles 4 mm. Angle.—Erect to about 15 degrees from vertical. Strength.—Strong, Texture — pubescent, Color — 187 B. Reproductive organs: Androecium.—Quantity per disc floret, 5. Filament length.—5 mm. Filament color.—155 B. Anther shape.—Oblong. Anther length.—1 mm. Anther color.—Close to 155 C. Pollen amount.—Moderate. Gynoecium present on disc florets.— Pistils.—One, length 5 mm, width less than 1 mm. Stigma shape.—Lanceolate, Stigma color — 8 A. Style.—Bifurcate, exserted. Length — 6 mm, Style color — 155 D. Scent.—No scent noticed. Seed and fruit: Achenes, Length — 2 mm. Color — 200 A. Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Eupatorium perfoliatum has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions. Hardiness: Plants of the new Eupatorium perfoliatum have been observed to be hardy to USDA Zone 5.