Rudbeckia plant named ‘BullRudihir 124’

[0001] Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta L.

[0002] Varietal denomination: ‘BullRudihir 124’.

[0003] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Rudbeckia plant known by the varietal name ‘BullRudihir 124’. The new variety was discovered in August of 2022 in Gönnebeck, Germany as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing Rudbeckia plants with improved growth, more uniformity, a compact growth habit, better branching, attractive foliage, large blooms, and unique flower colors. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR07-2021” (female parent) and an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR9-2021” (male parent) from the breeder's own collection. The new variety was first asexually reproduced via in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek, Germany in September of 2022. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties in botanical classification, but exhibits larger bicolor (orange-brown), semi-double to double flowers, earlier blooming, increased branching, and more attractive foliage (the new variety has small leaves with a dark green color and no necroses or yellow leaves) than the parental varieties. The new variety also differs from its female parent in that female parent does not exhibit a deep orange and brown-red base to the flowers, the female parent exhibits a larger percentage of single to semidouble flowering, with fewer ray florets, and the female parent exhibits pure branching with a habit that is approximately 10-15 cm taller, with bigger leaves (5-20 cm in length and 2-7.5 cm in width). The new variety also differs from its male parent in that the male parent exhibits only smaller (by approximately 2 cm) orange, double flowers, and the male parent flowers approximately 10 days later than the new variety. The male parent also exhibits a taller habit (approximately 10-15 cm taller) with less (approximately 30%) branching. Further, its compact growth habit distinguishes ‘BullRudihir 124’ from its male parent.

[0004] When ‘BullRudihir 124’ is compared to Rudbeckia hirta L. variety named ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’ (unpatented), ‘BullRudihir 124’ is similar to ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’ in botanical classification, but ‘BullRudihir 124’ exhibits a more compact growth habit (by approximately 10-15 cm) different flower color (orange-brown bicolor), semidouble to double flowers, improved plant quality, more uniform growth with increased self-branching (approximately 20-30%), and more attractive foliage, that distinguish it from ‘Cherokee Sunset Mix’. Further, the following characteristics distinguish ‘BullRudihir 124’ when generally compared to other Rudbeckia varieties known to the breeder:

• • [0005] Large, bicolored orange-brown blooms with a brown center;
  • [0006] Good self-branching;
  • [0007] An upright, compact, and uniform growth habit;
  • [0008] Healthy, green foliage;
  • [0009] Long bloom time; and
  • [0010] Unique flower color combination.
    The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive asexual propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

[0013] The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via in vitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebeck, Germany. Plants of the new variety were grown outdoors in 21 cm (4 liter) pots under normal field production conditions, and the color readings and measurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 18-week-old plants in Gönnebeck, Germany. Color references are primarily to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, Sixth Edition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

• [0014] Time to initiate roots: About 7-10 days at approximately 18° C.
• [0015] Time to develop roots: About 35-38 days at approximately 16-18° C.
• [0016] Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting: About 10-11 weeks in a 21 cm container.
• [0017] Rooting habit: Exhibits numerous roots of medium thickness that are freely branching and healthy in appearance.
• [0018] Plant height: 35.0-45.0 cm.
• [0019] Plant width: 30.0-40.0 cm.
• [0020] Vigor: About 8-9 weeks from a young, potted plant to a finished plant with opening flowers.
• [0021] Disease/pest resistance: Nothing unusual noted to date.
• [0022] Temperature tolerance: From −3 to +40° C.
• [0023] Drought tolerance: Relative Tolerance.
• [0024] Branching habit: Exhibits one dominant strong branch with several lateral side branches. The lateral branches are upright, forming an attractive habit.
• [0025] Branches (flowering stems):
  • • [0026] Number per plant.—25-40.
    • [0027] Length.—10.0-33.0 cm.
    • [0028] Diameter.—5.0-8.0 mm.
    • [0029] Internode length.—3.0-10.0 cm.
    • [0030] Angle.—Upright and outward.
    • [0031] Strength.—Strong.
    • [0032] Texture.—Pubescent.
    • [0033] Color.—Green (Close to 144A to 144B).
• [0034] Foliage:
  • • [0035] Arrangement.—Single.
    • [0036] Leaf.—Length: 3.0-17.0 cm. Width: 1.5-6.0 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute. Margin: Dentate and undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, haired. Lower surface: Rough, haired. Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: Medium green (close to 137B). Lower surface: Medium green (close to 137C). Mature leaves: Upper surface: Medium green (close to 137B to 137C). Lower surface: Medium green (close to 137D). Petiole: None present. Veins: Venation type: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Light green (close to 145C). Lower surface: Light green (close to 145A).

• [0037] Bud:
  • • [0038] Diameter.—1.6-4.0 cm.
    • [0039] Length.—1.8-3.8 cm.
    • [0040] Color.—Green (close to 145B) when closed with a brown middle (close to 187A) when open.
• [0041] Appearance: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped disc florets.
• [0042] Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs from June-October in Gönnebeck, Germany, beginning approximately 9-10 weeks after planting.
• [0043] Average number of inflorescences per plant: 20-40.
• [0044] Average number of inflorescences per branch: 1-5.
• [0045] Disc and ray floret arrangement: Semidouble to double composite flower with many whirls.
• [0046] Fragrance: None present.
• [0047] Inflorescence:
  • • [0048] Diameter.—8.0-12.0 cm.
    • [0049] Height (depth).—2.0-4.0 cm.
    • [0050] Diameter of disc.—2.0-3.0 cm.
    • [0051] Receptacle height.—1.0-1.5 cm.
    • [0052] Receptacle diameter.—3.0-6.5 cm.
• [0053] Ray florets:
  • • [0054] Number per inflorescence.—Many.
    • [0055] Arrangement.—Many whirls.
    • [0056] Length.—2.0-5.0 cm.
    • [0057] Width.—1.0-1.7 cm.
    • [0058] Shape.—Elliptical.
    • [0059] Apex.—Emarginate.
    • [0060] Base.—Acute.
    • [0061] Margin.—Entire.
    • [0062] Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface: Rough.
    • [0063] Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Orange (close to 22A) with a red-brown (close to 183A) middle. Lower surface: Close to 162B. At maturity: Upper surface: Orange (close to 22A) with more red-brown (close to 183A) in the middle. Lower surface: Orange (close to 22A) with a brown (close to 183A) middle. Ground color description: Orange (close to 22A) with brown (close to 183A).
    • [0064] Venation.—Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Yellow and brown, same color as the florets. Lower surface: Yellow and brown, same color as the florets.
• [0065] Disc florets:
  • • [0066] Number per inflorescence.—Numerous; too many to quantify.
    • [0067] Arrangement.—In the center of receptacle.
    • [0068] Length.—5.0-8.0 mm.
    • [0069] Width.—About 1.0 mm.
    • [0070] Shape.—Tubular.
    • [0071] Apex.—Five-pointed.
    • [0072] Color.—Immature: Brown (close to 200A). At maturity: Brown (close to 200A).
• [0073] Phyllaries:
  • • [0074] Number per inflorescence.—25-35.
    • [0075] Arrangement.—In three whorls.
    • [0076] Length.—1.0-3.3 cm.
    • [0077] Width.—3.0-10.0 mm.
    • [0078] Shape.—Lanceolate.
    • [0079] Apex.—Elongated oval.
    • [0080] Base.—Fused.
    • [0081] Margin.—Undulate.
    • [0082] Texture.—Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.
    • [0083] Color.—Immature: Upper surface: Green (close to 138A). Lower surface: Green (close to 138B). At maturity: Upper surface: Green (close to 138A). Lower surface: Green (close to 138B).
• [0084] Reproductive organs:
• [0085] Androecium:
  • • [0086] Presence.—On disc florets.
    • [0087] Number (per floret).—Numerous.
    • [0088] Filament length.—1.0-2.0 mm.
    • [0089] Filament color.—Brown (close to 200A).
    • [0090] Anther.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1.0 mm. Color: Brown (close to 200A).
    • [0091] Pollen.—Color: Yellow (close to 17A). Amount: Plentiful — too much to quantify.
• [0092] Gynoecium:
  • • [0093] Presence.—In disc and ray florets.
    • [0094] Pistil length.—About 2.0 mm.
    • [0095] Stigma.—Shape: Two-parted. Color: Brown (close to 200A).
    • [0096] Style.—Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Brown (close to 200A).
• [0097] Seeds:
  • • [0098] Overall size.—Approximately 2.0 mm.
    • [0099] Color.—Black (close to 202A).