<i>Lavandula </i>plant named ‘LABZ0012’

Abstract

A new Lavandula plant named ‘LABZ0012’, particularly distinguished by numerous purple sterile large bracts, purple black flowers, medium green foliage without greyish hue, a compact sized plant with a rounded, mounding habit, early to flower and long flowering.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘LABZ0012’, as substantially illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘LABZ0012’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a flowering plant of the new variety and in FIG. 2 a close up of the flower(s).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) The plant descriptions and measurements were taken outdoors in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands on Aug. 4, 2022 on about 14 weeks old plants. Rooted cuttings had been planted into 13 cm pots in week 15 2022. The plants were not pinched.

(3) The aforementioned photographs: FIGS. 1 and 2 were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands on Aug. 4, 2022 and showing a plant from an outdoor trial. The plant was about 14 weeks of age. Plants started flowering naturally in July.

(4) Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

(5) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘LABZ0012’ AND A MOST SIMILAR VARIETY (data collected from a side-by-side grown comparison trial in 2022) ‘LABZ0004’ (U.S. Plant ‘LABZ0012’ Pat. No. 27,493) Plant size: 20 cm Bushy, 30 cm Size of bracts: 3 cm 5-6 cm Number of bracts per 4 7 to 12 inflorescence: Bract color: RHS 78A RHS N86C Plant: Plant spread.—15-20 cm. Plant height.—20 cm, to top of flowering plane. 18 cm to top of foliar plane. Growth rate.—Fast. Plant vigor.—Moderate. Length of primary lateral branches.—15 cm. Diameter of lateral branches.—0.3 cm. Quantity of lateral branches.—25. Plant habit.—Dense upright shape. Stem: Juvenile color.—RHS 137C. Mature color.—RHS 137A. Texture/pubescence.—Smooth/No pubescence. Shape.—Round. Strength.—Very strong and flexible. Internode length.—1.3-1.9 cm. Propagation and roots: Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at 21 degrees C., relatively slow. Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 18-23 days at 21 degrees C. Root description.—Fine, fibrous, developing a woody texture with age, slow rooter. Color.—RHS 175B/155D. Foliage: Leaf.— Arrangement.—Opposite. Leaf type.—Simple. Quantity.—Approximately 40 fully expanded per main branch and approximately 50 juvenile leaves. Length.—3 cm. Width.—0.5 cm. Shape of blade.—Oblong. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Truncate. Attachment.—Sessile. Margin.—Entire. Texture of all surfaces.—Smooth. Leaf fragrance.—Very strong lavender scent. Color.— Young foliage upper side.—RHS 137B. Young foliage under side.—RHS 137C. Mature foliage upper side.—RHS 137A. Mature foliage under side.—RHS 137B. Venation.—Reticulate. Venation color upper side.—RHS 144A, only main vein distinguishable from foliage color. Venation color under side.—RHS 137B. Petiole.—Absent. Inflorsecence: Blooming period.—Early summer to late summer. Form and shape.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in spikes. Most commonly 8-10 rows of flowers. Flowers have small bracts, and medium terminal bracts. One flower spike per lateral stem. Number of individual flowers per spike.—Approximately 100-125. Fragrance.—None. Flower lastingness.—Individual flowers last approximately 1 week, inflorescence remain ornamental for 6 weeks. Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.— Length.—4.0 cm. Width.—1.2 cm. Shape.—Cylindrical. Bud: Length.—0.5 cm. Diameter.—0.2 cm. Shape.—Ovate. Color.—RHS 77A. Rate of opening.—Varies with climactic conditions: 3-7 days from colored bud to open flower. Corolla: Corolla shape.—Salverform. Petal number.—5. Petals fused or unfused.—Fused at base. Petal apex.—Obtuse. Petal base.—Fused. Petal shape.—All 5 lobes ovate. Petal margin.—Entire. Petal surfaces.—Glabrous. Length.—0.7 cm (corolla tube). Diameter.—0.2 cm (corolla tube). Coloration of individual flowers, excluding terminal bracts.—Immature: RHS 155B (bottom half) RHS N86A (top half). Mature: RHS 155B (bottom half) RHS N86A (top half). Bracts: Bract shape.—Elliptic. Bract apex.—Acute. Bract color.—RHS 137B. Terminal bracts (sterile).— Quantity.—4 large and 1 or 2 smaller per inflorescence. Large (terminal) bracts: Length.—3.0 cm. Width.—1.0 cm. Form.—Petaloid. Margin.—Entire and undulating. Surface.—Smooth. Appearance.—Matte. Shape.—Oblanceolate. Apex.—Retuse. Base.—Attenuate. Vein pattern.—Reticulate. Color.— Upper side of immature bract.—RHS N78A Veins lighter. Under side of immature bract.—RHS N78B Veins lighter. Upper side of mature bract.—RHS N78A. Under side of mature bract.—RHS N78A. Small bracts: Quantity.—1 or 2. Calyx: Width.—0.2 cm. Length.—0.5 cm. Shape.—Flattened tube. Color.—RHS 145A/187B. Peduncle: Peduncle length.—12-15 cm. Peduncle diameter.—0.3 cm. Aspect.—Upright. Color.—RHS 137B. Texture.—Densely pubescent. Reproductive organs: Androecium.—Stamens: 4. Anther length: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS N155A. Pollen quantity: Pollen production not observed. Pistil.—Number: 1. Length: 0.4 cm. Style.—Length: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS N155A. Stigma.—Length: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS N77C. Ovary.—Minute and immeasurable. Other characteristics: Seeds and fruits.—Few seeds, 0.05 cm, dark brown. Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Lavandula stoechas has been observed. Drought tolerance and cold tolerance.—Hardy perennial. Tolerates high temperature to at least 36 degrees C. While specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once plants are established very little water is necessary to maintain plants.