Astilbe plant named ‘Philosabby’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named ‘Philosabby’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit with upright inflorescences; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; early, freely and uniformly flowering habit; long flowering period; dense inflorescences; purplish pink-colored flowers on strong peduncles; and good container and garden performance.

Description

[0001] Botanical designation: Astilbe chinensis.

[0002] Cultivar denomination: ‘PHILOSABBY’.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe, botanically known as Astilbe chinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Philosabby’.

[0004] The new Astilbe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new fast-growing, compact, uniform and freely flowering Astilbe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

[0005] The new Astilbe plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2020 in Heemskerk, The Netherlands, of two unidentified seedling selections of Astilbe chinensis, not patented. The new Astilbe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in June, 2022.

[0006] Asexual reproduction of the new Astilbe plant by vegetative divisions in a controlled nursery environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands since February, 2023, has shown that the unique features of this new Astilbe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Plants of the new Astilbe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0008] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Philosabby’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Philosabby’ as a new and distinct Astilbe plant:

[0009] 1. Broadly upright plant habit with upright inflorescences.

[0010] 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

[0011] 3. Dark green-colored leaves.

[0012] 4. Early, freely and uniformly flowering habit.

[0013] 5. Long flowering period.

[0014] 6. Dense inflorescences.

[0015] 7. Purplish pink-colored flowers on strong peduncles.

[0016] 8. Good container and garden performance.

[0017] Plants of the new Astilbe differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

[0018] 1. Plants of the new Astilbe are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.

[0019] 2. Plants of the new Astilbe flower earlier than plants of the female parent selection.

[0020] Plants of the new Astilbe differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

[0021] 1. Plants of the new Astilbe are more compact than plants of the male parent selection.

[0022] 2. Plants of the new Astilbe flower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

[0023] Plants of the new Astilbe can be compared to plants of Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,860. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Astilbe and ‘Vision in Pink’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

[0024] 1. Plants of the new Astilbe are more compact than plants of ‘Vision in Pink’.

[0025] 2. Plants of the new Astilbe flower earlier than plants of ‘Vision in Pink’.

[0026] 3. Flowers of plants of the new Astilbe are lighter in color than flowers of plants of ‘Vision in Pink’.

[0027] Plants of the new Astilbe can also be compared to plants of Astilbe chinensis ‘Satin Pearls’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Astilbe and ‘Satin Pearls’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

[0028] 1. Plants of the new Astilbe are more compact than plants of ‘Satin Pearls’.

[0029] 2. Plants of the new Astilbe flower earlier than plants of ‘Satin Pearls’.

[0030] 3. Flowers of plants of the new Astilbe are purplish pink in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Satin Pearls’ are light and dark pink bi-colored.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0031] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Astilbe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Astilbe plant.

[0032] The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Philosabby’ grown in a container.

[0033] The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical leaf and leaflets of ‘Philosabby’.

[0034] The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Philosabby’.DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0035] The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 14.5-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Astilbe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, 2019 reprint, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

[0036] Botanical classification: Astilbe chinensis ‘Philosabby’.

[0037] Parentage:

[0038] Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified seedling selection of Astilbe chinensis, not patented.

[0039] Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified seedling selection of Astilbe chinensis, not patented.

[0040] Propagation:

[0041] Type.—By vegetative divisions.

[0042] Time to initiate roots.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C.

[0043] Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation.

[0044] Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.

[0045] Plant description:

[0046] Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly upright plant habit, overall plant shape, flattened globular, with inflorescences held above the foliar plane on upright and strong peduncles; flowering stems and leaves basal; freely flowering with numerous basal branches developing per plant, dense and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit; and early, freely and uniformly flowering habit.

[0047] Growth rate.—Moderately rapid; from divisions, about three months are required to produce fully-grown flowering plants in containers.

[0048] Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plane).—About 25.6 cm.

[0049] Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences).—About 47.5 cm.

[0050] Plant width (spread).—About 49.7 cm.

[0051] Stem description.—Quantity per plant: About five basal branches per plant. Length: About 22 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 10° from vertical. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; pubescence minute; slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 145A. Color, developed: Close to 144A.

[0052] Leaf description:

[0053] Arrangement.—Alternate; biternately compound; on average, about 37 leaflets per leaf.

[0054] Leaf length (excluding petiole).—About 17.6 cm.

[0055] Leaf width.—About 19.5 cm.

[0056] Terminal leaflet length.—About 5 cm.

[0057] Terminal leaflet width.—About 3.1 cm.

[0058] Lateral leaflet length.—About 3.3 cm.

[0059] Lateral leaflet width.—About 2.2 cm.

[0060] Leaf shape, in outline.—Broadly deltoid to broadly rhomboidal.

[0061] Leaflet shape.—Broadly ovate.

[0062] Leaflet apex.—Apiculate.

[0063] Leaflet base.—Attenuate with obtuse tendencies.

[0064] Leaflet margin.—Biserrate.

[0065] Leaflet texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderate pubescence along the midvein and lateral venation; slightly glossy.

[0066] Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.

[0067] Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to a blend of 137B and 147B; venation, close to 145A.

[0068] Leaf petiole length.—About 9.2 cm.

[0069] Leaf petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.

[0070] Leaf and leaflet petiole strength.—Strong.

[0071] Leaf and leaflet petiole texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent; moderately glossy.

[0072] Leaf and leaflet petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 146A and 146B; at the leaflet nodes, tinged with close to 166A and 166B.

[0073] Leaf and leaflet petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 144A; at the leaflet nodes, tinged with close to 143A.

[0074] Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two, opposite, at the base of each leaf. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 166C.

[0075] Flower description:

[0076] Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged on mostly upright compound panicles; flowers face upright, outward or downward depending on position on the inflorescence; panicles conical in shape; early, freely and uniformly flowering habit with about 4,000 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 20,000 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.

[0077] Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet and pleasant.

[0078] Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from the late spring until the late summer in The Netherlands.

[0079] Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.

[0080] Flower buds.—Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 144B; towards the apex, strongly tinged with close to 59B and 59C.

[0081] Inflorescence height.—About 22.4 cm.

[0082] Inflorescence diameter.—About 16 cm.

[0083] Flower diameter.—About 6 mm by 6 mm.

[0084] Flower depth.—About 6 mm.

[0085] Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 0.6 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 73B. Fully expanded petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 73B; venation, close to 73B; color does not change with subsequent development.

[0086] Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; towards the base forming a campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate, fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150D; towards the apex, close to 67C. Fully developed sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157C; towards the apex, close to 67D.

[0087] Peduncles.—Length: About 21.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle: Primary peduncles, mostly erect; secondary peduncles, about 60° from primary peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Moderately to densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 145B.

[0088] Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Angle: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 186D.

[0089] Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About ten. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 68C. Anther shape: Broadly ovate; basifixed. Anther length: About 0.3 mm. Anther diameter: About 0.2 mm. Anther color: Close to 75D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 156D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Two. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 58B. Style length: About 0.8 mm. Style color: Close to 63C. Ovary color: Close to 63C.

[0090] Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Astilbe.

[0091] Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Astilbe have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Astilbe plants.

[0092] Garden performance: Plants of the new Astilbe have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high light conditions, and temperatures ranging from about-25° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 10.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Astilbe plant named ‘Philosabby’ as herein illustrated and described.

Images