PHLOX PLANT NAMED 'APPOFALP'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Appofalp’, characterized by its broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit; freely flowering habit, numerous large soft purple-colored flowers with light purple-colored centers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Appofalp’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0027] The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox 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 Phlox plant.

[0028] The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Appofalp’ grown in a container.

[0029] The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph) of ‘Appofalp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0030] The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were pinched five weeks after planting and were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. [0031] Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Appofalp’. [0032] Parentage: [0033] Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number 047-08-010, not patented. [0034] Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number 047-08-008, not patented. [0035] Propagation: [0036] Type.—By terminal cuttings. [0037] Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at temperatures about 20° C. [0038] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at temperatures about 20° C. [0039] Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days at temperatures about 18° C. [0040] Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days at temperatures about 18° C. [0041] Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically white 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. [0042] Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. [0043] Plant description: [0044] Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and relatively compact plant habit; overall shape, obovate to narrowly obovate; low vigor to moderately vigorous in growth habit. [0045] Plant height.—About 41.4 cm. [0046] Plant width (spread).—About 38.3 cm. [0047] Lateral branches.—Quantity: About eight primary lateral branches per plant. Length: About 23.9 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 40° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B. [0048] Leaf description: [0049] Arrangement.—Opposite, simple. [0050] Length.—About 10.3 cm. [0051] Width.—About 3.9 cm. [0052] Shape.—Elliptic; slightly carinate. [0053] Apex.—Long apiculate to acute. [0054] Base.—Truncate. [0055] Margin.—Entire; very finely serrate, inconspicious. [0056] Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous; slightly rugose; slightly glossy. [0057] Venation pattern.—Pinnate. [0058] Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B to 143C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to N144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145A. [0059] Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 145A; towards the margins, slightly tinged with close to 200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A. [0060] Flower description: [0061] Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly hemispherical in shape; freely flowering habit with about 110 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 900 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season. [0062] Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant. [0063] Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower continuously from July through September in The Netherlands. [0064] Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent. [0065] Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Color: Close to N78C to N78D; developing tube, close to 147D; developing calyx, close to N186C, towards the margins, close to N186D and towards the base, close to 144C. [0066] Inflorescence height.—About 14.8 cm. [0067] Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.3 cm. [0068] Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm. [0069] Flower depth.—About 2.5 cm. [0070] Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube; free parts slightly to moderately imbricate. Length: Overall, about 3 cm; lower fused portion, about 1.8 cm. Lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Free part, spatulate. Apex: Slightly broad retuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. [0071] Color.—When opening, upper surface: Slightly more red than N78B; towards the throat, close to 76D; at the throat, close to N74A to N74B; throat, close to 79C. When opening, lower surface: Close to N80C to N80D, tube, close to 79C to 76D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74D and N78C; towards the throat, close to 76C; at the throat, close to N74B; throat, close to 79C; color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N80D; tube, close to 79D. [0072] Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146C; towards the margins and apex, close to N186C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N186C; towards the margins, close to N186D; towards the base, close to 144C. [0073] Peduncles.—Length, primary peduncles: About 11.4 cm. Diameter, primary peduncles: About 3 mm. Length, secondary peduncles: About 4.3 cm. Diameter, secondary peduncles: About 1.5 mm. Aspect, primary peduncles: Erect. Aspect, secondary peduncles: About 47.5° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146D heavily tinged with close to 200B. [0074] Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 40° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146D heavily tinged with close to 200B. [0075] Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five; filaments fused with petals. Filament length: About 0.75 mm. Filament color: Close to 186D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong; basifixed. Anther color: Close to 160B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11D. [0076] Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.6 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150C. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to N77D; towards the base, close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 143B. [0077] Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Phlox. [0078] Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. [0079] Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox plants.