Vernonia plant named ‘Summer's Swan Song’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Vernonia plant, ‘Summer's Swan Song’, that is characterized by its compact, bushy habit with stems that do not lodge, its inflorescence branches that are longer than other Vernonia varieties forming an interlocking network of branches that add to the overall plant sturdiness and resistance to stem lodging, its foliage and stems that are tinted red and purple in color, its high resistance to rust and powdery mildew, in being reliably hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9 and in being very drought tolerant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Vernonia plant designated ‘Summer's Swan Song’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Vernonia. The photographs were taken of ‘Summer's Swan Song’ as grown in a trial garden in Glencoe, Ill.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of a 3 year-old plant of ‘Summer's Swan Song’ in bloom.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a view of the foliage and flowers of a 3 year-old plant of ‘Summer's Swan Song’.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close up view of the flowers of a 4 year-old plant of ‘Summer's Swan Song’.

(5) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Vernonia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of five year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a trial plot in Glencoe, Ill. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Blooming period.—An average of 5 to 6 weeks from early September to mid-October in northern Illinois. Plant type.—Herbaceous Perennial. Plant habit.—Compact, bushy habit with stems that do not lodge. Height and spread.—In-ground trial plants 3 years in age; 72 cm in height and 90 cm in width at peak bloom, in-ground trial plants 5 years in age; 78 cm in height and 110 cm in width at peak bloom. Hardiness.—At least hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9. Diseases.—Highly resistant to powdery mildew and rust. Root description.—Fibrous, 155A in color. Propagation.—Shoot tip cuttings. Growth rate.—Vigorous. Root development.—Shoot tip cuttings will root under mist in four weeks in late spring to early summer, rooted cutting will fully root in a 2.5 inch pot in about two months and when transplanted in fall and overwintered in a 4.5 inch pot, they will bloom the following spring. Stem description: Shape.—Round. Stem color.—Main branch; a blend of 144A, 144B, 144C and 184A, leaf scars a blend of 200A and 166A, lateral branches; mostly 144B on the lower side of branch, upper side of branch is a blend of 144B and 187A at the base and becomes mostly 187A from the mid to top section. Stem size.—Main branches; average of 74.5 cm in length and an average of 5 mm in diameter, lateral branches; average of 15 cm in length and an average of 2 mm in width Stem surface.—Glossy, smooth and ridged, leaf scars are present and an average of 3 scars per linear cm. Branching number.—Average of 65 main branches, an average of 23 branches per main branch. Branching habit.—Main branches occur from the base held at straight upright vertical angle, lateral branches held at a 60° angle (90°=vertical), very strong. Foliage description: Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate. Leaf shape.—Linear. Leaf size.—Up to 11 cm in length and 3 mm in width. Leaf number.—Average of 48 per main branch and 17 per lateral branch. Leaf base.—Acute. Leaf apex.—Acute. Leaf margin.—Entire. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, one main middle vein, upper surface color; bottom is 145B sometimes with an overlay of 184B, then turning into a blend of 146A and 147A from the mid section to the tip, lower surface color; 146A. Leaf surface.—Upper surface dull and glabrous, lower surface slightly glossy and glabrous. Internode length.—Up to 1.5 cm. Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surfaces; 144B, mature upper surface; mostly 146A with a hue of 147A, mature lower surface; 146A. Leaf attachment.—Sessile. Petioles.—No petioles, leaves growing directly from the stem, sometimes growing underneath lateral branches. Inflorescence description: Inflorescence type.—Corymb. Inflorescence number.—1 per stem. Inflorescence fragrance.—None. Inflorescence size.—Average of 34 cm in depth and 38 cm in diameter. Peduncles.—Oval in shape, up to 4 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter, surface semi glossy, ridged and glabrous, color; inner side of peduncle is 187A, outer side of peduncle is 144A and sometimes a blend of 187A and 144A. Pedicels.—Oval in shape and up to 3.5 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, surface semi glossy, ridged and glabrous, color; inner side of peduncle is 187A, outer side of peduncle is 144A and sometimes a blend of 187A and 144A. Phyllaries.—About 50 per capitulum, discoid head, acute tips, entire margins, bluntly acute base, smaller phyllaries linear in shape, up to 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width, color of outer and inner surfaces; tip is N92A, remaining surfaces 144A in color, larger phyllaries lanceolate in shape average of 8 mm in length and 2 mm in width, color of outer and inner surfaces; tip to mid section and margins a blend of 59A and 60B, mid section to base 196A. Floret buds.—Linear in shape, average of 7 mm in length and 1 mm in width, color; base 155A, mid section a blend of N78A and NN74B, tip NN74A. Flower longevity.—Average of 3 to 5 days, depending on temperature. Floret type.—Discoid florets, no ray florets. Floret quantity.—Average of 16 florets per capitulum. Floret.—Just before floral anthesis; 1 cm in depth, 5 mm in width, elongated tube in shape and flat on top, base a blend of 146D and 146A, mid section a blend of N79A, 187A and 187B, tip is a blend of 186A and 61A and 64A, when open; average of 1.3 cm in diameter and 1.2 cm in depth, base 142B, mid section a blend of 59B and N79A, tip is a blend of 77A, N77A, N78A and 164C. Petals.—5 petals, 50% of petals fused, free top portion; base to mid section is linear in shape, un-fused portion of petals drop into downward hanging angles and slightly curl under, tube is 6 mm in length and 1 mm in width, loose petals at top are 3 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, petal tips acute in shape, inner and outer surfaces are translucent, glabrous and slightly velvety, entire margins, base fused to tube, color; inner and outer surfaces; base is 84C, mid section to tips are a blend of N82A, 83B and 83C. Pistils.—1 per floret, bifid stigma, 2 mm in length and <0.5 mm in width, 83A in color, style 5 mm in length and <0.5 mm in width, 151A and translucent in color, ovary is 1 mm in length and width, 155B in color, pappus bristles at base, 7 mm in length, color ranging between 183A and N187A. Stamens.—1 per floret, 4 filaments very fine, 5 mm in length, a blend of 83A and 155A in color, 2 anthers 3 mm in length, <0.5 mm in width, color when first blooming; NN155B, 83A at tip, color when aged; 165C to 165D, moderate amount of pollen observed when first blooming; NN155B in color. Fruit/seeds.—Fruit and seed production was not observed to date.