Pentas plant named ‘PEZZ0023’

[0001] Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pentas lanceolata.

[0002] Varietal denomination: ‘PEZZ0023.’

[0003] The present invention comprises a new Pentas, botanically known as Pentas lanceolata, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PEZZ0023’.

[0004] ‘PEZZ0023’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘PEZZ0023’ has large sized inflorescences and flowers, with dark pink colored flowers, dark green foliage, semi-trailing, sturdy and vigorous growth habit, thick stems and branches on a well-branched plant, tolerates hot summer conditions with continuous summer flowering.

[0005] ‘PEZZ0023’ originates from a cross hybridization of two (2) sibling seedlings in a breeding program made in September 2019 in a greenhouse in Amatitlán, Guatemala. The female parent was identified as ‘PTSCC0003-2’ with red flower color.

[0006] The male parent was an unpatented plant identified as ‘PTSCC0004-3’ with pink colored flowers. The resultant seed was sown in August 2020 in Gilroy, California.

[0007] ‘PEZZ0023’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in November 2020 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, California.

[0008] The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEZZ0023’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in January 2021 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, California.

[0009] Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in June 2024 in Gilroy, California, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEZZ0023’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

[0010] ‘PEZZ0023’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

[0011] A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for. ‘PEZZ0023’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘PEZZ0023’ directly from the inventor.

[0012] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Pentas as a new and distinct variety.

[0015] The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Gilroy, California in early June under natural light. These plants were approximately 30 weeks old and were grown in a 1gallon pot grown first in a greenhouse trial and then outside for about the last 10-12 weeks. The plants shown in the photographs were about 17 weeks old growing in a gallon pot in a greenhouse trial. The photographs were taken in June 2024.

[0016] Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S) 2001.

[0017]

TABLE 1
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY
‘PEZZ0023’ AND A MOST SIMILAR VARIETY
			‘Bismarck Pink’ (U.S.
		‘PEZZ0023’	Plant Pat. No. 15,780)
	Habit:	More vigorous and	Less vigorous
		trailing
	Leaf size:	Larger	Smaller
	Flower size/color:	Larger/ Dark Pink	Smaller/Pink

• [0018] PLANT:
  • • [0019] Form, growth and habit.—Semi-trailing, sturdy and vigorous growth habit; good heat tolerance with continuous flowering through summer; thick stems and branches with a well-branched plant habit.
    • [0020] Plant height.—29.0-31.0 cm.
    • [0021] Plant height (inflorescence included).—33.0-35.0 cm.
    • [0022] Plant width.—53.0-55.0 cm.
• [0023] ROOTS:
  • • [0024] Number of days to initiate roots.—12-14 days at about 22 degrees C.
    • [0025] Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—4-5 weeks at 22 degrees C.
    • [0026] Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.
    • [0027] Color.—RHS N155B.
• [0028] FOLIAGE:
  • • [0029] Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 131A.
    • [0030] Immature leaf, lower surface.—RHS N138B.
    • [0031] Mature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 136A.
    • [0032] Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 138B.
    • [0033] Length.—8.5-9.2 cm.
    • [0034] Width.—3.5-4.2 cm.
    • [0035] Shape.—Ovate.
    • [0036] Base shape.—Attenuate.
    • [0037] Apex shape.—Acute.
    • [0038] Margin.—Entire.
    • [0039] Texture upper side.—Hirsute.
    • [0040] Texture lower side.—Hirsute and more heavily on the veins.
    • [0041] Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 137C.
    • [0042] Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 138C.
    • [0043] Pattern of veining.—Pinnate.
    • [0044] Petiole color.—RHS 146C.
    • [0045] Petiole length.—1.2-1.3 cm.
    • [0046] Diameter of petiole.—0.2-0.3 cm.
    • [0047] Texture.—Hirsute.
• [0048] STEM:
  • • [0049] Quantity of branches.—7-8.
    • [0050] Color of stem.—RHS 137A.
    • [0051] Length of stem.—12-14 cm.
    • [0052] Diameter.—1.0-1.2 cm.
    • [0053] Length of internodes.—5.0-6.0 cm.
    • [0054] Texture.—Hirsute, pilose.
• [0055] PEDUNCLE:
  • • [0056] Color of peduncle.—RHS 137D.
    • [0057] Length of peduncle.—5.6-6.5 cm.
    • [0058] Peduncle diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.
    • [0059] Peduncle texture.—Pilose, hirsute.
• [0060] PEDICEL:
  • • [0061] Color of pedicel.—RHS 138C.
    • [0062] Length of pedicel.—1.0-1.1 cm.
    • [0063] Diameter of pedicel.—0.2 cm.
    • [0064] Pedicel texture.—Pilose, hirsute.
• [0065] BUD (just before opening)
  • • [0066] Color.—RHS 75D.
    • [0067] Length.—1.3-1.5 cm.
    • [0068] Width.—0.5 cm.
    • [0069] Shape.—Elliptical.
• [0070] INFLORESCENCE
  • • [0071] Type.—Terminal corymb; but more umbel looking.
    • [0072] Natural flowering.—Late spring and summer, flowers continuously.
    • [0073] Number of inflorescences per plant.—20-22 with open flowers and 7-9 immature with only buds.
    • [0074] Fragrance.—None.
    • [0075] Inflorescence diameter.—8-10 cm.
    • [0076] Inflorescence depth.—4.5-5.0 cm.
• [0077] COROLLA:
  • • [0078] Form.—Single, tubular-shaped flowers consisting of a single whorl of 5 pointed petals fused at the base; aspect slightly cupped; very free flowering.
    • [0079] Lastingness of individual flowers.—About 3-4 weeks depending on temperature.
    • [0080] Immature.
    • [0081] Color upper petals, upper surface.—RHS 63C.
    • [0082] Color upper petals, lower surface.—RHS 69C.
    • [0083] Mature.
    • [0084] Diameter of floret.—2.0-2.3 cm.
    • [0085] Depth of floret.—2.2-2.4 cm.
    • [0086] Color upper petals, upper surface.—RHS N66A.
    • [0087] Color upper petals, lower surface.—RHS 68C.
    • [0088] Length petals.—0.7-0.9 cm.
    • [0089] Width of petals.—0.5-0.6 cm.
    • [0090] Petal shape.—Ovate.
    • [0091] Apex shape.—Almost cuspidate.
    • [0092] Margin.—Entire.
    • [0093] Base.—Fused.
    • [0094] Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose.
    • [0095] Petal texture, lower surface.—Papillose, with some hairs down the mid- vein.
    • [0096] Corolla tube color, inside.—RHS 155C.
    • [0097] Corolla tube color, outside.—RHS 68C.
    • [0098] Corolla tube length.—About 1.7 cm.
    • [0099] Corolla tube diameter.—0.1-0.2 cm.
    • [0100] Corolla tube texture, inside.—Very hirsute at throat with hairs running the length of the tube.
    • [0101] Corolla tube texture, outside.—Hirsute.
    • [0102] Corolla throat diameter: 0.3-0.4 cm.
• [0103] CALYX:
  • • [0104] Number of sepals.—5.
    • [0105] Color of sepals.—RHS 133A.
    • [0106] Length of sepals.—0.5-0.6 cm.
    • [0107] Width of sepals.—0.2-0.3 cm.
    • [0108] Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.
    • [0109] Apex shape.—Acute.
    • [0110] Margins.—Entire, where not fused.
    • [0111] Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.
    • [0112] Texture, lower surface.—Hirsute, pilose.
• [0113] REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS GYNOECIUM:
  • • [0114] Pistil.—1.
    • [0115] Length.—2.7-3.0 cm.
    • [0116] Style color.—RHS 155C.
    • [0117] Style length.—2.0-2.1 cm.
    • [0118] Stigma color.—RHS 156D.
    • [0119] Sigma type.—Bi-parted; pubescent.
    • [0120] Ovary color.—Somewhat lighter than RHS N144A.
    • [0121] Ovary length.—0.2 cm.
    • [0122] Ovary diameter.—0.2 cm.
• [0123] ANDROECIUM:
  • • [0124] Number of stamens.—5, with filaments fused to the corolla wall.
    • [0125] Anther color.—RHS 155B.
    • [0126] Length of anthers.—0.25 cm.
    • [0127] Pollen amount.—Some.
    • [0128] Color of pollen.—155C.
    • [0129] Fertility/Seed set.—Has not been determined to date.
    • [0130] Disease/Pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date