A new and distinct Lagerstroemia cultivar named ‘DABLAGEO1’ is disclosed, characterized by early blooming, and observed mildew resistance. Plants flower prolifically, producing bright red-purple flowers. The new variety is a Lagerstroemia, normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species:Lagerstroemia indica.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The newLagerstroemiacultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alain Dabadie, in Hagemau, France. The objective of the breeding program was to developLagerstroemiacultivars exhibiting the characteristics of early, abundant flowering and mildew resistance. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during August of 2010.

The seed parent is the unpatented commercial variety referred to asLagerstroemia‘Houston’. The pollen parent is unknown. The new variety was selected September of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009 open pollination, in a seedling trial field in Landes, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood cuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in Landes, France during February of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DABLAGE01’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DABLAGE01’ as a new and distinctLagerstroemiacultivar;1. Bright red-purple flowers.2. Prolific flowering.3. Early blooming.4. Resistance to mildew.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DABLAGE01’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics; however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DABLAGE01’ differ in the following;1. The new variety has a brighter pink colored flower.2. The new variety produces inflorescences approximately 16 to 30 cm long, compared to the 10 to 16 cm inflorescences of the parent variety.3. The new variety has resistance to mildew, the seed parent has not been observed to have resistance under same cultural conditions.4. The new variety begins flowering mid-June to early July, under the same conditions the parent variety begins flowering mid-July.

The pollen parent cannot be identified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DABLAGE01’ are comparable to the commercial varietyLagerstroemia‘Pecos’, unpatented. The twoLagerstroemiavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, including observed mildew resistance, however, the new variety ‘DABLAGEO1’ differs in the following;1. The new variety has a brighter pink flower.2. New variety produces longer inflorescences.3. New variety has a more weeping habit than the fully upright habit of ‘Pecos’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DABLAGE01’ plants outdoors during July of 2018 in Landes, France and measured during the Summer. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 8° C. to 32° C. during the day and from approximately 1° C. to 12° C. during the night. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.Botanical classification:Lagerstroemia indica‘DABLAGE01’.

PROPAGATION

Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cutting.Time to initiate roots: About 14-21 days at about 24° C.Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 28-35 days at about 24° C.Root description: Thin fibrous, not fleshy, freely branching. White in color, not accurately measured with RHS Chart.

PLANT

Age of plant described: 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting.Container size: 3 gallon container.Overall plant shape: Small tree, with a weeping form when grown as a grafted standard. Dense, semi-prostrate arching when grown as a shrub.Growth habit: Freely branching.Plant spread: 100 cm.Plant height: 200 cm when grafted and grown as a standard. About 100 cm when grown as a shrub.Growth rate: ModeratePlant vigor: Good.Branching habit: Free branching.Length of primary lateral branches: Varies as this is often pruned. 20 to 50 cm on average.Diameter of lateral branches: 7 to 12 mm.Quantity of lateral branches: About 20.Stem:Color.—New growth: Green group 135B. Old growth: Grey brown group 199A.Shape.—Round.Strength.—Good.Aspect angle.—Arching.Texture.—Pubescent, then woody with age.Internode length: Average range 3.5 to 5.0 cm.Bark peel: Not observed to peel or produce a different color than the branches.

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date.Disease/pest resistance: Observed resistance to mildew, assumed to be the pathogenErysiphe australiana. Neither resistance nor susceptibility to other normal diseases and pests ofLagerstroemiaobserved.Temperature range: Observed to tolerate a temperature range from −10° C. to 38° C.