Coreopsis plant named ‘Sophia’

Abstract

A new cultivar of hybrid Coreopsis named ‘Sophia’ characterized by its compact plant habit reaching an average of 45 cm in height and 45 cm in width, its near sterility with a floriferous and long bloom season that does not require deadheading with bloom commences in late June and lasts until frost in Kensington, Conn., its medium sized inflorescences with tube-shaped ray florets that are light yellow in color, its lack of requirement for vernalization to initiate flowering, its cold hardiness to at least U.S.D.A. Zone 5, and its resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Sophia’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Coreopsis. The photographs were taken of a three month-old plant of ‘Sophia’ as grown in a one-gallon container from a 30-cell plug in New Braintree, Mass.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Sophia’ in bloom.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a view of several inflorescences of ‘Sophia’.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Sophia’.

(5) The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Coreopsis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of three month-old plants of ‘Sophia’ as grown outdoors in one-gallon containers from 128-cell plugs in Kensington, Conn. 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 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Blooming period.—Blooms from late June and lasts until frost in Kensington, Conn. Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial. Plant habit.—Compact and upright. Height and spread.—An average of 45 cm in height and 45 cm in width. Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5. Diseases resistance.—Has been observed to be resistant to powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis) and leaf spot (Pseudomonas cichorii). Root description.—Fibrous when young, becoming fleshy with age, 162D in color. Root development.—Roots initiate in 6 to 8 days and fully develop in a 128-cell plug in about 28 days with bottom heat and rooting hormone at optimal times of the year. Propagation.—Division and stem cuttings (preferred). Growth rate.—Vigorous, but stays compact. Stem description: Shape.—Oval, ridged. Stem color.—Young; 143B to 143C, mature bark; 134B suffused with 199C. Stem size.—Main and secondary stems; an average of 20 cm in length and 4.5 mm in width, tertiary stems; an average of 15 cm in length and 3 mm in width. Stem surface.—Glabrous. Stem aspect.—Upright. Stem strength.—Strong. Branching habit.—Well-branched, an average of 1 main branches, 6 secondary branches per main stem, 2 tertiary stems. Internode length.—An average of 2.8 cm. Foliage description: Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf margins.—Entire to trifid. Leaf size.—Variable, up to 9.5 cm in length and 1.6 cm in width when entire, up to 11 cm in length and 5 cm in width when trifid. Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate when entire, oblanceolate lobes when trifid. Leaf base.—Truncate to clasping. Leaf apex.—Acute. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, inconspicuous, matches leaf color on upper and lower surface. Leaf attachment.—Sessile. Leaf arrangement.—Opposite. Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface slightly hirsute and dull. Leaf color.—Young and mature upper surface; 137A, young and mature lower surface; 138A. Inflorescence description: Inflorescence type.—Composite with overlapping tube-shaped ray florets surrounding disk florets in the center. Lastingness of inflorescence.—8 to 10 days until senescence of ray flowers, longer in cool temperatures, bracts and disk flowers are persistent. Fragrance.—Very slight sweet honey scent. Quantity of inflorescences.—An average of 20 per main branch. Inflorescence size.—An average of 2 cm in depth and up to 5 cm in diameter. Inflorescence buds.—Average of 8 mm in depth and in diameter, spherical in shape with a flattened top, color; a blend of 143C and 153A. Peduncle.—Average of 8 cm in length and 2 mm in width, ridged, glabrous surface, strong, 143B to 143C. Sepals.—An average of 8,9 mm in length and 2 mm in width, color; 137A with base 143C. Involucral bracts: Bract number.—8, 4 outer bracts and 4 inner bracts. Bract arrangement.—Bracts surround receptacle in a campanulate form, held close to lower surface of ray florets. Bract size.—An average of 9 mm in length and 5 mm in width. Bract color.—Transluscent; apex, 9B with narrow parallel lines N199A and base 143C. Bract texture.—Outer and inner surface; glabrous and satiny. Bract apex.—Acute. Bract base.—Truncate. Bract margins.—Entire. Bract shape.—Ovate. Ray florets (sterile): Number.—An average of 17 arranged primarily in one row. Shape.—Obovate to oblanceolate, tube-shaped. Size.—An average of 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width and tubes 5 mm in width. Apex.—3 notched. Base.—Cuneate. Margins.—Entire with apex notched. Aspect.—Held upward and outward. Texture.—Glabrous on upper and lower surface. Color.—When opening and when fully open, inner and outer surface; 5A to 5B. Disk flowers (perfect): Shape.—Tubular, corolla is fused, flared at apex. Number.—About 50. Size.—About 5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. Color.—En masse; 13B, corolla tube; 13C to 13D, apex; 13B. Receptacle.—About 5 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth, color; 145C to 145D. Reproductive organs: Presence.—Disk flowers are perfect, ray flowers are sterile. Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, 5 mm in length, style is very fine, translucent and 154C in color, two-lobed stigma is 13A in color, ovary is 1.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width, inferior, and 145D in color. Androcoecium.—3 stamens, fused into tube surrounding style, 1.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width, about 175A in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 15A in color. Fruit/seed.—Nearly sterile, no fruit or seed development has been observed to date.