<i>Echinacea </i>plant named ‘Balsompotin’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsompotin’, characterized by its single-type, bright red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsompotin’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsompotin’. The plants were approximately 5.5 months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsompotin’.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsompotin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

(5) The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2022 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 5.5-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Approximately eight weeks after transfer to a greenhouse, plantlets were transplanted into one-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium and grown for six weeks. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately two months. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balsompotin’. Parentage: Female parent.—POWWOW Wild Berry ‘PAS702917’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. Male parent.—Proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selection coded E101-4-10, not patented. Propagation: Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are possible. Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at 18° C. Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately 30 days at 18° C. Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in color. Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. Plant description: Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm container. Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial, moderately vigorous, compact-upright. Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−32° C. to −29° C.). Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 28.0 cm. Width: Approximately 34.0 cm. Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately 5. Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 19.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems: 146B to 146C with an overlay of 187A. Foliage description: General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate. Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 11.0 cm to 18.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm to 5.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Dull, sparsely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 145C. Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 145B to 145C. Flowering description: Flowering habit.—‘Balsompotin’ is freely flowering blooming from late spring through late summer under outdoor growing conditions. Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. Inflorescence description: General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Height: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm. Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 10.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color: 146B to 146C with an overlay of 187A. Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 9. Shape: Flattened globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 cm. Color: Outer ray florets of 186B with bud center of 144A. Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 19. Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Elliptic. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire. Apex: Three acute tips. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.6 cm. Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface when first open: N74A blended with 71A and 70A. Color of lower surface when first open: 186A to 186B. Color of upper surface when fully open: 70A blended with 71A and N74A, with senescence fades to closest to 186C with 64A. Color of lower surface when fully open: 186A to 186B. Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 200. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or inner surface when first and fully open: 146D with 187A at tips. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 146D with 187A at tips and base of NN155D. Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: 155D. Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 36. Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards the peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Sparsely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A, innermost with an overlay of 187A. Color of lower surface: 137B, innermost with an overlay of 187A. Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc: Approximately 200. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of 167B with an overlay and tip of 187A, mid-section of 146D, and base of NN155D. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: Closest to 199A. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament color: 155D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 187A. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: NN155D. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea has not been observed.