Impatiens plant named ‘Balcelwitim’

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens hawkeri.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcelwitim’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcelwitim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during September 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars with numerous large flowers, attractive flower coloration, and a freely basal branching growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Infinity White ‘Visinfwhi’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,149, characterized by its single type white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and upright and rounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Harmony White, not patented, characterized by its single type blush white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2004 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.

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcelwitim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

1. Single type pure white-colored flowers; 2. Dark green-colored foliage; and 3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower size and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and flower size. Plants of the new cultivar have larger sized flowers than both the female and male parents.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Super Sonic White ‘Fisupnic’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,724. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Fisupnic’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar are later to flower than plants of ‘Fisupnic’; plants of the new cultivar began flowering approximately three weeks later than plants of ‘Fisupnic’, 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger flower diameter than plants of ‘Fisupnic’; and 3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers than plants of ‘Fisupnic’.

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcelwitim’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcelwitim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcelwitim’.

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.

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 Aug. 14, 2007 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

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 9 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.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Balcelwitim. Parentage:

Female parent.— Infinity White ‘Visinfwhi’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,149. Male parent.— Harmony White, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.— Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.— Approximately 7 to 8 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.— Approximately 21 to 24 days. Root description.— Fibrous. Rooting habit.— Freely branching.

Plant description:

Commercial crop time.— Approximately 7 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot. Growth habit and general appearance.— Vigorous, upright-mounded. Size.— Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 16.3 cm. Width: Approximately 25.8 cm. Branching habit.— Freely basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 5. Branch.— Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 12.7 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144A.

Foliage description:

General description.— Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 10. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: In whorls of 3 to 5 leaves. Leaves.— Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and leaf blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 10.0 cm. Width of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 191A with venation of 145D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 139A with venation of 145B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 191A with venation of 145C. Petiole.— Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C.

Flowering description:

Flowering habit.— ‘Balcelwitim’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment. Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.— Approximately 5 to 7 days.

Flower description:

General description.— Type: Single. Quantity per plant: Approximately 6. Fragrance: None. Bud.— Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity showing color per plant: Approximately 2. Bud just before opening.— Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color: 155D. Corolla.— Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals turning downward with age. Width: Approximately 7.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm. Borne: Above and below foliage. Petals.— Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base of upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower petals: Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 3.8 cm. Length of lateral petals: Approximately 3.1 cm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 2.5 cm. Length of lower petals: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately 3.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open: Purer white than 155D. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: Purer white than 155D. Spur.— Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 5.4 cm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D with tip of 145C. Peduncle.— Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145B. Sepals.— Quantity per flower: 4 with one fused to base of upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape of lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acuminate. Length of lateral sepals: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of lateral sepals: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of lateral sepals: 145D transitioning to 145A at tip. Color of lower sepal: Purer white than 155D and tip of 145B. Reproductive organs.— Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 158D. Filament color: Purer white than 155D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma shape: 5-pointed star. Stigma color: Colorless, transparent. Style color: 144A. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 144A.

Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea Impatiens has not been observed.