Lantana plant named ‘Balandimpea’

[0001] Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

[0002] Variety denomination: ‘Balandimpea’.

[0003] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balandimpea’.

[0004] The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during August 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars with continuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a well-branched, vigorous growth habit.

[0005] The new Lantana cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection designated BFP484, not patented, characterized by its light yellow and white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and upright, compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown, but is from a group of Lantana camara plants having various colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and various growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during April 2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

[0006] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

[0007] The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balandimpea’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

• • [0008] 1. Peach-colored flowers;
  • [0009] 2. Dark green-colored foliage; and
  • [0010] 3. Moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

[0011] Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

[0012] Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is LANDMARK Peach Sunrise ‘Balucpeach’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,637. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucpeach’ in the following characteristics:

• • [0013] 1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of ‘Balucpeach’;
  • [0014] 2. Plants of the new cultivar are narrower than plants of ‘Balucpeach’; and
  • [0015] 3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from plants of ‘Balucpeach’.

[0019] The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0020] The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Mar. 31, 2006 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

[0021] The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 17 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

• [0022] Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar Balandimpea.
• [0023] Parentage:
  • • [0024] Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection designated BFP484, not patented.
    • [0025] Male parent.—Lantana camara mixed pollen source.
• [0026] Propagation:
  • • [0027] Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
    • [0028] Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.
    • [0029] Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28 days.
    • [0030] Root description.—Fibrous.
    • [0031] Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• [0032] Plant description:
  • • [0033] Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.
    • [0034] Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, semi-upright.
    • [0035] Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 24.3 cm. Width: Approximately 42.1 cm.
    • [0036] Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 4.
    • [0037] Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong, becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 27.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.4 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color of young stem: 144B. Color of mature stem: 199A.
• [0038] Foliage description:
  • • [0039] General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 15. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.
    • [0040] Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower surface: Scabrous with a mixture of glandular pubescence along venation. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 143C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 138B with venation of 138C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 143C.
    • [0041] Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.4 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color: 143C.
• [0042] Flowering description:
  • • [0043] Flowering habit.—‘Balandimpea’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.
    • [0044] Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.—Approximately 7 to 9 days from first color of outer buds to dropping of last flower.
• [0045] Inflorescence description:
  • • [0046] General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant: Approximately 13. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 27.
    • [0047] Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color: 144B.
• [0048] Flower description:
  • • [0049] General description.—Type: Salverform.
    • [0050] Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in progression from the margin to the center of the inflorescence.
    • [0051] Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at apex. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.9 mm. Color: 48C.
    • [0052] Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm.
    • [0053] Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical. Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Cupped. Margin: Entire, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: 13D at margins with 14B at tube opening. Color of lower surface when first open: 11D with an overlay of N74D at the center of the lateral petals. Color of upper surface when fully open: 39C at margins with 19A overlaid with 40B at center and at tube opening. Petals darken with age to N74D with small areas of N74C and 40B at center and tube opening. Color of lower surface when fully open: N155D with an overlay of N74D most concentrated at the center of the lateral petals. The overlay darkens with age to N74C.
    • [0054] Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter at tube opening: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous at base, gradually becoming densely pubescent at tube opening. Pubescence has color of N74C from middle of tube to tube opening. Color of inner surface: 19B. Color of outer surface: 144C at base, transitioning to 144D at tube opening.
    • [0055] Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner and outer surfaces: 142D.
    • [0056] Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape: Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B.
    • [0057] Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid, bilobed. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 13A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 13C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 142D, translucent. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style color: Colorless, translucent. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 142A at apex transitioning to 142D at base.
• [0058] Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
• [0059] Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Lantana has not been observed.