Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlocoro’

Genus and species: Phlox drummondii Hook.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunphlocoro’.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of phlox, botanically known as Phlox drummondii Hook., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sunphlocoro’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in June 2002 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The female parent was the proprietary phlox plant ‘2Ph-38a’ (unpatented), while the male parent was the proprietary phlox plant ‘2Ph-38b’ (unpatented).

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the hybridization in 2004 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since then. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

1. Abundant, red-purple flowers; 2. Abundant branching; 3. Vigorous, compact and mounding growth habit; 4. Flowers continuously from Spring to late Autumn; 5. Excellent tolerance to heat; and 6. Good tolerance to rain and wind.

This new phlox plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant in full color, the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 4-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Sunphlocoro’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The plant history was taken on 4-month old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 12-cm pots in 2005 and grown in a plastic-covered greenhouse between 16° C. and 20° C. The plants were pinched once in November 2005. Observations were made when the plants were in full flower in March 2006. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

Classification:

Family. —Polemoniaceae. Botanical.—Phlox drummondii Hook. Common name. —Phlox.

Parentage:

Female parent. —‘2Ph-38a’, a proprietary purple (RHS N78A) flowered phlox plant (unpatented). Male parent. —‘2Ph-38b’, proprietary purple (RHS N78A) flowered phlox plant (unpatented).

Growth:

Form. —Annual. Habit. —Mounding, upright, freely branching, vigorous. Height ( measured from the top of the soil ).—12.6 cm. Diameter or area of spread. —26.6 cm. Propagation. —Terminal tips for cutting. Time to produce a finished flowering plant. —1 month, in April to late October under Japanese conditions, for a 12-cm pot. Keeping quality. —210 days. Outdoor plant performance. —Use in flower bedding and potting; excellent tolerance to heat; good tolerance to rain and wind. Time to initiate and develop roots. —14 to 21 days at 20° C. to 25° C. Time to produce rooted cutting or liner ( young plant ).—30 to 60 days at 20° C. to 25° C. Root description. —Ivory or pale brown, fibrous, fine; fleshy, freely-branching.

Branches:

Number of branches. —25 lateral branches. Length of lateral branches. —12.0 cm. Diameter of lateral branches. —0.21 cm.

Stems:

Description. —Round in cross-section. Aspect. —Upward. Color. —RHS 144B. Diameter. —0.21 cm. Stem length. —12.0 cm. Internode length. —0.9 cm. Anthocyanin. —Absent. Texture. —Pubescent.

Leaves:

Arrangement. —Alternate, single leaves. Quantity of leaves ( per lateral branch ).—17. Apex. —Acute. Base. —Obtuse. Color ( mature leaves ).—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 138B. Color ( immature leaves ).—Upper surface: RHS 144A. Lower surface: RHS 143C. Margin. —Entire. Size. —Length: 5.5 cm. Width: 1.4 cm. Shape. —Lanceolate. Texture. —Smooth, pubescence on both sides. Venation. —Type: Reticulate. Color: RHS 145B. Petiole. —Absent.

Flower buds:

Color. —RHS 64B. Shape. —Clavate. Size. —Length: 1.59 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.

Inflorescence:

Blooming habit. —Continuous. Inflorescence type. —Cyme, single flower, self-cleaning. Arrangement. —Terminal and lateral. Height. —4.1 cm. Width. —5.6 cm. Aspect. —Upright to outward. Shape. —Hypocraterimorphous corolla. Fragrance. —Present. Flower number ( per inflorescence ).—7. Quantity of flowers and buds per plant. —97. Flower longevity on plant. —5 days. Peduncle. —Color: RHS 144B. Length: 0.79 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Pedicel. —Color: RHS 144B. Length: 0.36 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Texture: Pubescent.

Flowers:

Size. —Height (flower depth): 1.8 cm. Diameter: 2.9 cm. Corolla. —Shape: Tube. Color: Inside: RHS 64A. Outside: RHS 70C. Length: 1.3 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Petals. —Arrangement: Single whorl. Shape: Broadly rhombic. Number: 5, fused. Size: Length (from the throat): 1.3 cm. Width: 1.2 cm. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Color (when opening): Upper surface: RHS N66A with RHS N74C eye color. Lower surface: RHS N66D. Color (fully opened): Upper surface: RHS N66A with RHS N74C eye color. Lower surface: RHS N66D. Color fading to: RHS N66C. Petal texture (both surfaces): Smooth. Calyx. —Shape: Star-shaped. Length: 0.91 cm. Diameter: 1.42 cm. Sepals. —Arrangement: Single whorl. Number: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Size: Length: 0.63 cm. Width: 0.14 cm. Color (mature): Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface: RHS 138B. Color (immature): Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface: RHS 138B.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens. —Quantity: 5. Anther: Shape: Linear. Length: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 7B. Pollen. —Amount: Normal. Color: RHS 7A. Pistil. —Quantity: 1. Length: 0.31 cm. Style. —Length: 0.07 cm. Color: RHS 31C. Stigma. —Shape: Stringy, trifid. Color: RHS 8D. Ovary color. —RHS 143B.

Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed.

Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

‘Sunphlocoro’ differs from the female parent ‘2Ph-38a’ (unpatented), by having red-purple (RHS N66A) flowers with red-purple (RHS N74C) eye color, while ‘2Ph-38a’ has purple (RHS N78A) flowers with red-purple (RHS 71A) eye color. Additionally, ‘Sunphlocoro’ has a smaller plant size than ‘2Ph-38a’.

‘Sunphlocoro’ differs from the male parent ‘2Pha-38b’ (unpatented), by having red-purple (RHS N66A) flowers with red-purple (RHS N74C) eye color, while ‘2Ph-38b’ has purple (RHS N78A) flowers with red-purple (RHS 71A) eye color. Additionally, ‘Sunphlocoro’ has a smaller plant size than ‘2Ph-38b’.

‘Sunphlocoro’ is similar to the commercial variety ‘Parona Carmine’ (unpatented) however, there are differences as listed in Table 1 below: