A new and distinct Buddleja cultivar named ‘MISS PEARL’ is disclosed, characterized by white ruffled flowers, upright spike-like inflorescences, compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense foliage, medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray underside. Plants are female sterile and anthers malformed or lacking. The new variety is a Buddleja, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species:Buddlejasp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The newBuddlejacultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Dennis James Werner, at a research greenhouse in Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newBuddlejavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during July of 2009.

The seed parent is the, patented, commercial variety referred to asBuddleja‘Ice Chip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,015. The pollen parent is the patented, commercial variety referred to asBuddleja‘Miss Molly’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,425 The new variety was discovered on Jun. 21, 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009 crossing, at a research nursery in Jackson Springs, N.C., U.S.A.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by semi-hardwood stem cuttings. This was first performed at the Horticulture Field Lab greenhouse NCSU Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A. in July of 2015 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 2 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘MISS PEARL’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MISS PEARL’ as a new and distinctBuddlejacultivar:1. Whited flowers with ruffled petals.2. Upright, spike-like inflorescences.3. Compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense foliage.4. Medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray underside.5. Essentially female sterile.6. Anthers malformed or lacking.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are similar to plants of the seed parent,Buddleja‘Ice Chip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,015 in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ differ in the following;1. Semi-upright growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a spreading growth habit.2. Ruffled petals, whereas the seed parent has non-ruffled petals.3. The new variety produces more flowers.4. The new variety is less vigorous.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent,Buddleja‘Miss Milly’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,425 in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ differ in the following;1. Flowers color is white, whereas the pollen parent has deep pink flowers.2. Essentially female sterile, whereas the pollen parent is moderately female fertile.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial varietyBuddleja‘White Ball’. The twoBuddlejavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘MISS PEARL’ differs in the following:1. Semi-upright growth habit whereas the comparator has a rounded growth habit.2. Longer inflorescences.3. Taller stature.4. Ruffled petals, whereas the comparator has non-ruffled petals.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ can also be compared to the patented commercial varietyBuddleja‘Miss Ruby’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,950. The twoBuddlejavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘MISS PEARL’ differs in the following:1. Flower color is white whereas the comparator flower color is pink.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MISS PEARL’ plants grown in a poly greenhouse during the June, in Grand Haven, Mich. U.S.A. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 10° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.Botanical classification:Buddleja‘MISS PEARL’.

PROPAGATION

Type of propagation typically used: Softwood or semi-hardwood cutting.Time to initiate roots: 14-21 days at 21-23.8° C. average temperature.Time to produce a rooted young plant: 45 days at 21-23.8° C. average temperature.Root description: Dense, free-branching, medium thickness, fleshy. Color is tan, not accurately described with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests ofBuddlejaobserved to date.Lowest temperature tolerance: To date in trials −13.9° C.Highest temperature tolerance: To date in trials 38.8° C.Garden performance: Good to excellent.