Viburnum plant named ‘NCVX1’

Classification: Viburnum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘NCVX1’.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Viburnum , hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘NCVX1’. This new Viburnum was developed through a breeding program at North Carolina State University, Mills River, N.C. ‘NCVX1’ was selected from a population of seedlings grown from an open-pollinated F 1 hybrid Viburnum ( lobophyllum×japonicum ) ‘Huron’ (unpatented) growing in an isolation block with Viburnum ( japonicum×dilatatum ) ‘Chippewa’ (unpatented).

The first asexual propagation of ‘NCVX1’ was carried out in July 2009 by rooting stem cuttings at the North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, Mills River, N.C. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and in tissue culture over a 5 year period. ‘NCVX1’ roots readily from softwood cuttings treated with a basal dip of 4,000-5,000 ppm indole butyric acid (potassium salt) in water. ‘NCVX1’ 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 standard horticultural practices at North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, Mills River, N.C.

1. Compact form with dense, prostrate, branching habit. 2. Semi-evergreen with highly glossy foliage. 3. Abundant cymes containing 150-400 small white florets. 4. Red to purple fall and winter foliage color.

‘NCVX1’ is distinguished from its female parent Viburnum ‘Huron’ by its growth habit and foliage. ‘NCVX1’ has a compact, prostrate habit and extremely glossy, semi-evergreen leaves. Viburnum ‘Huron’ is a large upright shrub with dull, semi-evergreen leaves. ‘NCVX1’ is distinguished from Viburnum ‘Chippewa’ in that ‘NCVX1’ has a compact, mounding habit and Viburnum ‘Chippewa’ is a large, upright, rounded shrub.

‘NCVX1’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to Viburnum ‘Heneke’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,870. The new variety however differs in the following:

1. ‘NCVX1’ has a red flush to the mature foliage, this comparator has entirely green foliage. 2. ‘NCVX1’ has burgundy Fall foliage, not seen in this comparator.

‘NCVX1’ can also be compared to Viburnum ‘Michael Dodge’, unpatented. The new variety however differs in the following:

1. ‘NCVX1’ has dark green foliage with a red flush. ‘Michael Dodge’ has light green foliage. 2. ‘NCVX1’ has broader and rounder foliage than ‘Michael Dodge’. 3. ‘NCVX1’ has burgundy Fall foliage. ‘Michael Dodge’ has orange Fall foliage.

This new Viburnum is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 . Shows cymes with multiple florets in April 2014 in Mills River, N.C.

FIG. 2 . Shows glossiness of foliage of a young container-grown plant in April 2014 in Mills River, N.C.

FIG. 3 . Shows the overall habit of a container-grown plant in April 2014 in Mills River, N.C.

FIG. 4 . Shows the fall and winter foliage color in November 2013 in Arden, N.C.

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘NCVX1’. The detailed description was taken on 4-year-old plants growing in Mills River, N.C. in April 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition.

Classification:

Botanical name.—Viburnum ‘NCVX1’. Common name.—Viburnum.

Parentage: Seedling from an open-pollinated, F 1 hybrid Viburnum ( lobophyllum×japonicum ) ‘Huron’ (unpatented) growing in an isolation block with Viburnum ( japonicum×dilatatum ) ‘Chippewa’ (unpatented).

Plant description:

Growth habit .—Prostrate to rounded with compact, dense branching habit. Height.— 50-55 cm at maturity. Width.— 70-80 cm at maturity.

Stem:

Immature stem texture .—Finely pubescent, lenticelled. Immature stem color .—Yellow-Green (146C) flushed Greyed-Purple (183B). Mature stem texture .—Glabrous, lenticelled. Mature stem color .—Grey-Brown (N199A). Lateral branch length .—Avg. 25 cm (typical range: 18 to 35 cm). Internode length.— 5 to 10.5 cm.

Foliage:

Leaves:

Persistence .—Semi-evergreen or tardily deciduous. Arrangement .—Opposite, simple. Length .—Avg. 11.3 cm (typical range: 8.0 to 13.0 cm). Width .—Avg. 7.7 cm (typical range: 5.8 to 10.0 cm). Shape .—Ovate to broad-ovate. Apex .—Acute to acuminate. Base .—Rounded. Venation pattern .—Pinnate. Margin .—Entire, undulate, toothed at apex. Emerging leaves .—Color: Upper: Yellow-Green (144A) flushed with Red (46B). Lower: Yellow-Green (146C). Texture: Glossy, sparsely pubescent on both sides. Mature leaves during growing season .—Color: Upper: Grayed-Green (N 189). Lower: Yellow-Green (147B). Venation: Grey-Purple (183C) to Yellow-Green (146D), both upper and lower sides. Texture: Upper side glossy and slightly pubescent; glabrous below. Fall foliage color .—Upper: Ranging between and including Greyed-Red (178A) to Greyed-Purple (183A). Lower: Yellow-Green (147C). Petiole .—Length: Avg. 1.5 cm (typical range: 1.2 to 2.0 cm). Width: Avg. 0.18 cm (typical range: 0.15 to 0.22 cm). Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Yellow-Green (146C), upper and lower.

Inflorescence:

Description .—Rounded, umbel-like cyme. Number of flowers per inflorescence.— 150-400. Flowering season .—Early May. Flower longevity.— 2-3 weeks. Fragrance .—None. Inflorescence height .—Avg. 4.0 cm (typical range: 3.0 to 5.0 cm). Inflorescence diameter .—Avg. 9.0 cm (typical range: 7.5-10.5 cm). Flower diameter .—Avg. 0.58 cm (typical range: 0.5 to 0.8 cm). Flower depth .—Avg. 0.38 cm (typical range: 0.25 to 0.4 cm). Flower bud .—Length: Less than 0.2 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.2 cm. Shape: Round. Color: Ranging from Yellow-Green (150C) to White (155A). Petals .—Number: 5. Length: Avg. 0.3 cm (typical range: 0.26 to 0.32 cm). Width: Avg. 0.26 cm (typical range: 0.23 to 0.29 cm). Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Texture: Glabrous. Color: White (155C). Sepals .—Number: 5. Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Width: Less than 0.1 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous. Color: White (155C). Peduncle .—Length: Avg. 1.56 cm (typical range: 1.2 to 2.5 cm). Width: Avg. 0.12 cm (typical range: 0.08 to 0.15 cm). Color: Yellow-Green (146C to 146D). Texture: Glabrous. Pedicels .—Length: Avg. 0.32 cm (typical range: 0.15 to 0.5 cm). Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Yellow-Green (146C to 146D).

Reproductive organs:

Gynoecium .—Pistil number: About 3. Pistil length: About 0.05 cm. Stigma shape: 3-lobed. Stigma color: White (155C). Style length: Less than 0.05 cm. Style color: White (155C). Androecium .—Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Round. Anther width: Less than 0.05 cm. Anther color: Orange-White (159B). Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: White (155C).

Fruit/seed set: None observed.

Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect pests have been observed.

Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone 6b; testing not completed in colder zones.