Ground cover rose plant named ‘Poultc022’

A new garden rose plant of the ground cover class which has abundant, apricot flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of garden rose plant which originated from a controlled crossing between the female seed parent, an unnamed seedling, and the male pollen parent, also an unnamed seedling. Both of the parent varieties are non-patented.

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 2006 and the resulting seeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark. The new variety, named ‘Poultc022’, originated as a single seedling from the stated cross.

The new variety may be distinguished from its male pollen parent and female seed parent primarily by the following characteristics. The female seed parent has flowers which are Yellow-Orange Group 19B, while the new variety has flowers which are Orange Group 24B. The male pollen parent has orange red flowers.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was to create a new and distinct variety for garden use with unique qualities, such as:1. Uniform and abundant apricot flowers;2. Vigorous, but compact growth when propagated both as a budded rose and on its own roots;3. Exceptional disease resistance.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously available commercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventor, and distinguish ‘Poultc022’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Mogens N. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridization during winter of 2006 and conducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark. ‘Poultc022’ was selected in the spring of 2007 by the inventor as a single plant from the progeny of the aforementioned hybridization.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Poultc022’ by traditional budding and rooted cuttings was first done by Mogens N. Olesen in the nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in July, 2007. This initial and other subsequent asexual propagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Poultc022’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘Poultc022’,as observed in its growth in a field nursery in Marion County, Oreg. Observed plants are 2 years of age, and were grown on their own roots. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety ‘Poulbambe’, described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,292 are compared to ‘Poultc022’ in the chart entitled Comparison with a comparative cultivar ‘Poulbambe’.

Comparison with a Comparative Cultivar ‘Poulbambe’

Flower and Flower Bud

Blooming habit: Continuous.Flower bud:Size.—Upon opening, 20 mm in length from base of receptacle to end of bud. Bud diameter is 9 mm.Bud form.—Urceolate.Bud color.—As sepals divide petals are Yellow Group 8A and Orange Group 26B.Sepal inner surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 145C. Surface: Lightly pubescent.Sepal outer surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with intonations of Greyed-Red Group 183A. Texture: Smooth.Sepal shape.—Apex: Cirrhose. Base: Flat at union with receptacle.Sepal margin.—Margins have weak foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals.Sepal size.—15 mm long, 5 mm wide.Receptacle.—Texture: Smooth. Size: 5 mm in height, 6 mm wide. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with intonations of Greyed-Red Group 183A. Shape: Campanulate.Pedicel.—Surface: Smooth. Length: 25 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm on average. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with intonations of Greyed-Orange Group 175A. Strength: Moderate.Peduncle.—Length: 4 to 9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Texture: Smooth.Flower bud development: Flower buds are borne in panicles of about 35 flower buds per stem.Flower bloom:Fragrance.—Light floral.Duration.—The blooms have a duration on the plant of approximately 10 days. Petals fall cleanly away from plant after flowers have fully matured.Size.—Flower diameter is 45 mm when open. Flower depth is 20 mm.Flower shape.—Open cup.Shape of flower, side view.—The upper portion is convex. The lower portion is concave.Petalage: Under normal conditions, flowers have 25 petals total, 3 to 4 of which are petaloids.General tonality of flower: Open flowers are Orange Group 24B fading to Yellow-Orange Group 23C.Petal color:Upon opening.—Upper surface: Orange Group 24B with a petal spot which is Yellow Group 9B. Lower surface: Orange Group 25C with a petal spot which is Yellow Group 9B.After opening.—Upper surface: Yellow-Orange Group 19B with streaks of Red Group 39B. Lower surface: Yellow-Orange Group 19B blended with Orange Group 27B.Petals:Petal reflex.—Somewhat reflexed.Margin.—Slight point at the apex.Shape.—Generally elliptical. Apex shape: Rounded. Base shape: Acute.Size.—25 mm (l)×20 mm (w).Texture.—Smooth.Thickness.—Average.Petaloids:Size.—16 mm (l) by 7 mm (w).Quantity.—3 to 4.Shape.—Elliptical.Color.—Upper surface is Orange Group 24B with a petal spot which is Yellow Group 9B. Lower surface is Orange Group 25C with a petal spot which is Yellow Group 9B.Reproductive flower parts:Pollen.—None observed.Anthers.—Size: 2 mm in length. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 20B. Quantity: 35 on average.Filaments.—Color: Yellow-Orange Group 22C. Length: 4 mm.Pistils.—Length: 2 to 3 mm. Quantity: 20 on average.Stigmas.—Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 162C.Styles.—Color: Red-Purple Group 63C.Location of stigmas.—Inferior in location relative to the length of the filaments and the height of the anthers.Hips.—None Observed.

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