USPP36363P2

USPP36363P2 - Campanula plant named ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’

Info

Publication number: USPP36363P2
Application number: US18/430,001
Authority: US
Inventors: Jan Noordam
Original assignee: Kwekerij Stadsland
Current assignee: Kwekerij Stadsland
Priority date: 2024-02-01
Filing date: 2024-02-01
Publication date: 2024-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2044-02-01

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ is disclosed, characterized by biennial plants producing sterile flowers. The unique new cultivar produces unique color-changing flowers, beginning green and white, gaining more Violet 86D highlight coloration with age. Flowering stems have a vase life of 15 to 22 days. Flowers on the live plants have the novel characteristic of not fading after visits by pollinators. The new cultivar is a Campanula, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant or for cut flower purposes.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Campanula medium.

Variety denomination: ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeder program conducted by the inventor at a commercial nursery in Angeren, the Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Campanula varieties for both cut flower and garden use. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during June of 2019.

The seed parent is an unnamed, unpatented variety of Campanula medium. The pollen parent is a different unnamed, unpatented Campanula medium. The new variety was selected at a commercial nursery in Angeren, the Netherlands in June of 2020.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ was first performed during July of 2020 at a commercial nursery in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands via tissue culture. Through subsequent propagation, multiple additional generations have been reproduced, having shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ as a new and distinct Campanula cultivar:

- 1. Sterile flowers.
- 2. Long lasting flowers with a base life of 15 to 22 days.
- 3. Flowers do not fade after visits by pollinators.
- 4. Unique color change as flowers age, beginning with more green and white, gaining more Violet 86D coloration with age.
- 5. Biennial plants.
- 6. Multi-colored flowers of white, green, and violet 86D.

PARENT COMPARISONS

The new variety ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ differs from both the seed and pollen parents in that the flowers of the new variety do not fade as occurs in both parent varieties.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar Campanula ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ can be compared to the commercial variety Campanula ‘Chameleon Purple’, unpatented. Plants of ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ are similar to plants of ‘Chameleon Purple’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ differ in the following:

- 1. Flowers of the new variety are considerably smaller than flowers of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a close up view of a typical flower of ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ from a plant of about 200 days old.

FIG. 2 . Illustrates a typical flowering stem from ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ grown in an unheated greenhouse in the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 200 days old, grown in a 1-gallon container.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ plants grown in the ground in an unheated greenhouse in Angeren, the Netherlands. The plants were about 250 days old. Temperatures ranged from −6° C. to 15° C. at night to 5° C. to 30° C. during the day. No chemical treatments were given to the plants, only biological control for thrips. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

Botanical classification: Campanula medium ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’.

PROPAGATION

Time to initiate roots: About 5 to 10 days at 15° C. to 20° C.
Time to produce a rooted liner: About 35 to 40 days at approximately 20° C.

PLANT

Age of plant described: Approximately 250 days.
Growth habit: Plants form a rosette before flower initiation. In Spring shoots arise from the rosette.
Height: 70 to 150 cm.
Plant spread: 40 cm.
Growth rate: Moderate.
Main stem characteristics:
- - Length.—Average 100 cm.
  - Diameter.—2.0 to 2.5 cm at base.
  - Quantity of stems per plant.—About 30 to 50 basally emerging stems, lateral branching rare.
  - Color.—RHS Green 140D flushed 141 A.
  - Texture.—Pubescent.
  - Strength.—Very strong.
Primary lateral branches:
Quantity of primary lateral branches: 6-10.
Length of primary lateral branches: 25-40 cm.
Characteristics of primary lateral branches:
- - Form.—Round.
  - Diameter.—0.5-1 cm.
  - Color.—RHS Green 140D flushed 141 B.
  - Texture.—Pubescent.
  - Strength.—Medium.
Internode length: Average range 5-7 cm.
Root description: Dense, fibrous root system. Roots variably white, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart.

FOLIAGE

Leaf:
- - Arrangement.—At the base very crowded (rosette). On the stems alternate.
  - Quantity.—Approximately 150 to 300 per plant.
  - Average length.—15 cm.
  - Average width.—3 cm.
  - Shape of blade.—Ovate-lanceolate.
  - Apex.—Acuminate.
  - Base.—Attenuate.
  - Margin.—Serrate.
  - Aspect.—Slightly undulate, pubescent.
  - Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.
  - Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.
  - Color.—Young foliage, upper side: Near RHS Green 141D. Young foliage, under side: Near RHS Green 141D. Mature foliage, upper side: Near RHS Green 141A. Mature foliage, under side: Near RHS Green 141A.
  - Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Color, upper side: Near RHS Green 140D. Color, under side: Near RHS Green 140D.
Petiole:
- - Length.—Average 5 mm.
  - Diameter.—Average 4 mm.
  - Color.—Near RHS Green 140D flushed 141 B.
  - Texture.—Pubescent.

FLOWER

Natural flowering season: May and June.
Inflorescence:
- - Type and habit.—Panicle composed of single campanulate flowers.
  - Height.—Average range 50 cm to 80 cm.
  - Diameter.—Average range 20 to 30 cm.
  - Flowers per inflorescence.—Average range 20 to 30.
Individual flower:
Rate of flower opening: 30 to 50 days from bud to fully opened flower.
Flower longevity on plant: 30 to 40 days.
Vase life: 20 to 22 days.
Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.
Attitude: Upwards and slightly outwards.
Bud:
- - Shape.—Oval.
  - Length.—2-3 cm.
  - Diameter.—1 cm.
  - Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144D.
Flower size:
- - Diameter.—8 cm.
  - Depth.—4 cm.
  - Throat diameter.—2-3 cm.
  - Tube length.—4-5 cm.
  - Tube diameter at base.—1 cm.
Petal lobes and tube:
- - Petal lobes.—Typically 5.
  - Length.—3 cm.
  - Width.—3-4 cm.
  - Shape.—Bell shaped.
  - Apex.—Rounded.
  - Base.—Fused.
  - Texture, outer surfaces.—Petal Lobe: Soft, glabrous. Tube: Soft, glabrous.
  - Texture, inner surfaces.—Petal Lobe: Soft, glabrous. Tube: Soft, glabrous. Throat: Soft, glabrous.
  - Color.—Outer Surfaces: Petal Lobe when opening: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Tube when opening: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Petal Lobe fully opened: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Tube fully opened: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Inner Surfaces: Petal Lobe when opening: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet N88C. Tube when opening: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet N88C. Throat when opening: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Petal Lobe fully opened: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Tube fully opened: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Throat fully opened: RHS Yellow-Green 145A flushed Violet 86D. Petal Lobe fading: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Tube fading: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Throat fading: RHS Yellow-Green 145A.
Sepals:
- - Quantity.—5.
  - Length.—1.5-2 cm.
  - Width.—1 cm.
  - Shape.—Ovate.
  - Apex.—Acuminate.
  - Base.—Obtuse.
  - Margin.—Serrate.
  - Texture.—Outer Surface: Pubescent, almost bristly. Inner Surface: Smooth.
  - Color.—Outer Surface: RHS Green 141A. Inner Surface: RHS Green 141A.
Peduncles:
- - Length.—1-2 cm.
  - Diameter.—3 mm.
  - Angle.—About 60° to the lateral branch.
  - Strength.—Medium.
  - Texture.—Pubescent.
  - Color.—RHS Green 140D flushed 141 B.
Pedicels:
- - Length.—1-2 cm.
  - Diameter.—3 mm.
  - Angle.—About 60° to the lateral branch.
  - Strength.—Medium.
  - Texture.—Pubescent.
  - Color.—RHS Green 141D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:
- - Number per flower.—Typically 5.
Anthers:
- - Shape.—Round.
  - Length.—Approximately 1 cm.
  - Color.—Near RHS White 155C.
  - Pollen.—None.
Pistil:
- - Quantity per flower.—1.
  - Length.—Approximately 2 to 3 cm.
  - Style.—Length: Approximately 2 cm. Color: Near RHS White 155D.
  - Stigma.—Shape: Orbicular.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Seeds and fruits: Sterile; no seed production.
Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to common diseases and pests of Campanula has been observed.
Temperature tolerance: Zone 8 hardiness.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘CHAMELEON BLUE’ as herein illustrated and described.