Impatiens plant named ‘Balcebibu’

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balcebibu’, characterized by its single-type, light lavender-colored flower, medium green-colored foliage-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, and mounded growth habit.

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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiensplant botanically known asImpatiens hawkeriand hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcebibu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during December 2004. The objective of the breeding program was the development ofImpatienscultivars with numerous large flowers, excellent basal branching, and a compact, mounded growth habit.

The newImpatienscultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryImpatiens hawkeribreeding selection designated 8210-1, not patented, characterized by its single-type white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryImpatiens hawkeribreeding selection designated 8302-1, not patented, characterized by its single-type lavender-colored flowers having a white “eye”, dark green-colored foliage, and minimally vigorous, compact growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2005 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcebibu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:1. Single-type, light lavender-colored flowers;2. Medium green-colored foliage; and3. Moderately vigorous, compact, and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth vigor.

Of the many commercially availableImpatienscultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is HARMONY Lavender, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of HARMONY Lavender in at least the following characteristics:1. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter foliage color than plants of HARMONY Lavender; and2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color slightly different from plants of HARMONY Lavender.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

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 Jun. 24, 2008 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings 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. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.Botanical classification:Impatiens hawkericultivar Balcebibu.Parentage:Female parent.—ProprietaryImpatiens hawkeribreeding selection designated 8210-1, not patented.Male parent.—ProprietaryImpatiens hawkeribreeding selection designated 8302-1, 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 6 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, compact, and mounded growth habit.Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 14.0 cm. Width: Approximately 30.0 cm.Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 5.Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 12.1 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144B.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 9.4 cm. Width of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation of 145B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 139A with venation of 145C.Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C.Flowering description:Flowering habit.—‘Balcebibu’ 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 5. 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: 75B.Corolla.—Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals turning downward with age. Width: Approximately 6.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.0 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 4.6 cm. Length of lateral petals: Approximately 3.1 cm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 3.4 cm. Length of lower petals: Approximately 3.6 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: Between N80B and N80C with an eye of 155D. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: Lighter than N80D. Color of upper surface when fully open: Between N80C and N80D with an eye of 155D.Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 6.5 cm. Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D with tip of 144A.Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 6.8 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 1.4 cm. Width of lateral sepals: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces of lateral sepals: 144B transitioning to 144A at tip. Color of upper and lower surfaces of lower sepal: Purer white than 155D with tip of 144B.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 158D. Filament color: 155D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 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 toImpatienshas not been observed.