<i>Helleborus </i>plant named ‘ET EPB 716’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant named ‘ET EPB 716’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; continuous and freely flowering habit; relatively large purplish red-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane on relatively long peduncles; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘ET EPB 716’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET EPB 716’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘ET EPB 716’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in three-liter containers in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 0° C. to 10° C. and night temperatures ranged from −15° C. to 0° 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: Helleborus orientalis X Helleborus ericsmithii ‘ET EPB 716’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus orientalis identified as code number 2H68, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus ericsmithii identified as code number AS12, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By meristem culture. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at temperatures about 22° C. to 25° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 22 days at temperatures about 5° C. to 10° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two months at temperatures about 20° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 55 to 60 days at temperatures about 12° C. to 15° C. Root description.—Fleshy, vigorous; typically white to brown 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; moderately dense. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright plant habit with flowers held above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Plant height.—About 50 cm to 55 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 40 cm. Stems.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 147C densely covered with spots, close to N187B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Leaves arranged alternately in a basal rosette; leaves palmately compound with three to five leaflets per leaf. Leaflet length.—About 10 cm to 15 cm. Leaflet width.—About 6 cm to 10 cm. Leaflet shape.—Ovate to obovate. Leaflet apex.—Acute. Leaflet base.—Acute. Leaflet margin.—Serrate. Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery; glossy. Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery; slightly glossy. Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate. Leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 136B; center and near the midvein, marbled with close to 139D. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B slightly tinged with close to 187A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 136B marbled with close to 139C to 139D; venation, close to 139C to 139D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B slightly tinged with close to 187A; venation, close to 147B tinged with 187A. Petioles.—Length, fully expanded leaves: About 20 cm to 25 cm. Diameter, fully expanded leaves: About 5 mm to 9 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147C; densely covered with spots, close to N187B. Flower description: Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in loosely branched cymes; freely flowering habit with typically about 30 to 35 flowers developing per cyme and up to 50 flowers developing per cyme in the second year of growth; flowers facing outwardly to somewhat drooping. Fragrance.—None detected. Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about two months after planting; plants flower from January through March in The Netherlands. Flower longevity on the plant.—About two months; flowers persistent. Inflorescence height.—About 35 cm to 40 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 30 cm to 40 cm. Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 59C. Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 8 cm. Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm to 3 cm. Petals.—None observed; transformed into nectaries. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five arranged in a single whorl; slightly imbricate. Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Ovate to obovate. Apex: Obtuse and occasionally emarginate. Base: Rounded. Margin: Mostly entire and occasionally emarginate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 59C; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 59A; color does not change with subsequent development. Peduncles.—Length: About 15 cm to 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B heavily covered with spots, close to 59A. Pedicels.—Length: About 6 cm to 12 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect: About 10° to 15° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 59A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 75. Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 155A. Anther shape: Ovate to oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 157B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 157B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About five to seven. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157B. Style length: About 2 cm. Style color: Close to 59C. Ovary color: Close to 149B. Nectaries.—Quantity per flower: About 10 to 15. Length: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Funnelform. Color: Close to N144B; towards the margins, close to 59B. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 35° C. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus plants.