Dahlia plant named ‘HDRF155’

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘HDRF155’, characterized by its compact, mounding and dense plant habit; deeply serrated dark-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescence form; large inflorescences with red and orange-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDahliaplant, botanically known asDahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HDRF155’.

The newDahliaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact containerDahliaplants that have dark-colored leaves, large inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The newDahliaplant originated from an open-pollination in Lisse, The Netherlands in 2007 of a proprietary seedling selection ofDahlia hybridaidentified as code number VD5-272, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofDahlia hybridaas the male, or pollen, parent. The newDahliaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands in 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the newDahliaplant by cuttings since the spring of 2009 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this newDahliaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newDahliahave not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HDRF155’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HDRF155’ as a new and distinctDahliaplant:1. Compact, mounding and dense plant habit.2. Deeply serrated dark-colored leaves.3. Freely flowering habit.4. Daisy-type inflorescence form.5. Large inflorescences with red and orange-colored ray florets.6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the newDahliadiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newDahliaare more compact and denser than plants of the female parent selection.2. Leaves of plants of the newDahliaare more serrated and darker in color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.3. Plants of the newDahliaand the female parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent selection have reddish brown-colored ray florets.

Plants of the newDahliacan be compared to plants of theDahlia hybrida‘HS Flame’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,426. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahliadiffered from plants of ‘HS Flame’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newDahliawere shorter than plants of ‘HS Flame’.2. Plants of the newDahliaand ‘HS Flame’ differed in ray floret color as plants of ‘HS Flame’ had red and yellow bi-colored ray florets.

Plants of the newDahliacan also be compared to plants of theDahlia hybrida‘Dark Angel Pulp Fiction’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahliadiffered from plants of ‘Dark Angel Pulp Fiction’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newDahliawere taller than plants of ‘Dark Angel Pulp Fiction’.2. Plants of the newDahliahad larger inflorescences than plants of ‘Dark Angel Pulp Fiction’.3. Plants of the newDahliaand ‘Dark Angel Pulp Fiction’ differed slightly in ray floret color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Lisse, The Netherlands and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercialDahliaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were pinched one time about three weeks after planting. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Dahlia hybrida‘HDRF155’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection ofDahlia hybridaidentified as code number VD5-272, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection ofDahlia hybrida, not patented.Propagation:Type.—By vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eleven days at soil temperatures of 15° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 days at soil temperatures of 15° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days at soil temperatures of 15° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days at soil temperatures of 15° C.Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.Tubers.—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 12 cm. Texture: Corky. Color: Close to 199B.Plant description:Plant form/growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit; inverted triangular plant form; freely basal branching with about six lateral branches per plant; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; vigorous, dense and bushy growth habit.Plant height.—About 28 cm.Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Internode length: About 4 cm to 11 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 187A.Foliage description:Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves may be single or compound with three or five leaflets.Shape.—Ovate.Apex.—Acuminate.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Deeply serrate; sinuses divergent.Single leaf length.—About 20 cm.Single leaf width.—About 15 cm.Leaflet length.—About 5 cm.Leaflet width.—About 4 cm.Venation pattern.—Pinnate.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 200A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 200A; venation, close to 187B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B occasionally tinted with close to 187C; venation, close to 187A.Petioles.—Length, all leaves and leaflets: About 5 mm to 70 mm. Diameter, all leaves and leaflets: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 187B.Inflorescence description:Appearance and flowering habit.—Rotate daisy-type inflorescences with ray and disc florets developing acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright; freely flowering habit with about 50 inflorescences developing per plant.Fragrance.—None detected.Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 65 to 67 days after planting; flower continuously during the summer and autumn in The Netherlands.Post-production longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; inflorescences maintain good substance for about 18 days on the plant and for about five to six days as a cut flower; inflorescences persistent.Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 187A and 187C; towards the base, close to 200A.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 9.1 cm. Depth (height): About 3 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.7 cm. Receptacle height: About 5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 2.2 cm. Receptacle color: Close to 83A.Ray florets.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronulate. Base: Attenuate. Aspect: Initially upright to roughly perpendicular to the peduncle. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About eight arranged in a single whorl. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 34A and 42A; towards the base, close to 24A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 59B; longitudinal ribs, close to 75B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 34A and 42A; towards the base, close to 24A; towards the margins, close to 34D and 42D; color becoming closer to 24A to 24B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45A; longitudinal ribs, close to 77B.Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Length: About 1.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 70. Color, immature: Apex: Close to 60A. Mid-section: Close to 25A to 25B. Base: Close to 1D. Color, mature: Apex: Close to 21A. Mid-section: Close to 25B. Base: Close to 21A.Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 200A.Peduncles.—Length: Terminal peduncle: About 6 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 3B. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 15A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 20A. Gynoecium, present on ray and disc florets: Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 12C. Style length: About 5.5 mm. Style color: Close to 150B. Ovary color: Close to 150B. Fruits: Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200A. Seeds: Length: About 5.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Color: Close to 187A.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newDahliahave not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toDahlia.Garden performance: Plants of the newDahliahave exhibited good tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C.