Ficus plant named ‘ESPE1902’

A new and distinct variety of Ficus plant named ‘ESPE1902’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact growth habit, small pubescent leaves borne on pubescent petioles, pubescent lateral branches, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein isFicus benghalensis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety ofFicusdisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘ESPE1902’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/3117, Nov. 27, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘ESPE1902’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamedFicus benghalensisplant (not patented). In the summer of 2014, the inventor discovered the mutation at his commercial greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, the Netherlands, growing amongst a cultivated population ofFicus benghalensisplants. The mutation was noted for its compact habit and small foliage and was subsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘ESPE1902’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘ESPE1902’, by way of stem cuttings, was first initiated in September of 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, the Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ESPE1902’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and 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 ‘ESPE1902’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ESPE1902’ as a new and distinctFicuscultivar:1.Ficus‘ESPE1902’ exhibits a compact growth habit; and2.Ficus‘ESPE1902’ exhibits relatively small foliage; and3.Ficus‘ESPE1902’ exhibits pubescent lateral branches, petioles, and foliage.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in August of 2020 and describe a sample set of six 25 week-old ‘ESPE1902’ plants grown in 19 cm nursery pots, at a greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, the Netherlands. Plants were produced in a greenhouse with full sun exposure, ebb and flood irrigation tables, no supplemental fertilizer, and no preventative or pest control measures utilized.

A botanical description of ‘ESPE1902’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial variety ofFicusare provided below.Plant description:Growth habit.—Upright.Plant form.—Oblong.Average height.—97.2 cm from the soil level to the top of the foliar plane.Plant spread.—Average of 40.5 cm.Growth rate.—Moderately fast to fast.Plant vigor.—Vigorous.Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 40 days to produce a rooted cutting at approximately 25 degrees Celsius.Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 18 weeks to produce a marketable finished plant in a 17 cm pot.Disease and pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to typicalFicus benghalensispests and diseases has been observed.Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10 through 13 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; moderate to high tolerance to rain; low to moderate tolerance to wind.Root system:General.—Moderately dense, moderately branched rooting; roots are fibrous.Distribution in the soil profile.—Moderately deep.Diameter of roots.—1.5 mm on average.Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.Color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 162B and 162C.Stems and branches:General branching habit.—One main stem; with sparse lateral branching. Pinching isn't required but will improve branching.Main stem.—Length — Approximately 86.2 cm. Diameter — Approximately 1.3 cm. Internode length — Approximately 4.8 cm. Attitude — Near vertical. Aspect — Rounded. Strength — Strong. Texture — Juvenile stems are densely covered with thin hairs with an average length of 0.3 cm. Hairs are colored greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 161 D. Mature stems are glabrous. Color, juvenile — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Color, mature — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B and axially striped greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 1648 and 164C. Color at the leaf nodes — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B. Color of the oldest wood — Greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 198B and 198C, and axially striped greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 164A.Lateral branches.—Quantity of lateral branches — 2. Attitude — Outward. Aspect — Rounded. Strength — Strong. Texture — Densely covered with thin hairs with an average length of 0.3 cm. Hairs are colored greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 161D. Color, juvenile — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Color, mature — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B and axially striped greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 164B and 164C. Color at internodes — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B.Foliage:Arrangement.—Alternate.Division.—Simple.Quantity.—19 leaves per main stem.Attitude.—Upward and outward.Lamina.—Shape — Long cordate to broad ovate. Aspect — Flat to slightly concave. Dimensions — 18.0 cm long and 13.8 cm wide. Apex — Undeeply retuse. Base — Cordate. Margin — Entire; slightly, coarsely repand. Texture of the adaxial surface — Slightly rugose and densely hirsute; hairs are colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D, with an average length of 0.2 mm. Texture of the abaxial surface — Moderately rugose and hirsute, particularly along the veins; hairs are colored greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D, with an average length of 0.2 mm. Luster of the adaxial surface — Slightly glossy. Luster of the abaxial surface — Very slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137B, and veined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B, and veined lighter, nearest to RHS 145A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 147A and N189A yet darker. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B. Venation — Pattern — Pinnate, reticulate. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS N145C and 150D. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS N145D and 150D. Petiole — Length — 7.3 cm. Diameter — 0.6 cm. Strength — Strong. Texture — Densely hirsute; hairs are colored greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D, with an average length of 0.2 mm. Luster — Matte to very slightly glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144B and 144C. Stipule — General — A single dry stipule is present at the base of each leaf. Shape — Ovate. Length — 3.9 cm. Diameter — 2.7 cm. Aspect — Concave. Apex — Acute to emarginated. Base — Broad cuneate. Margin — Entire; undulate. Texture, adaxial — Smooth; glabrous. Texture, abaxial — Moderately hirsute; hairs colored greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D, with an average length of 0.3 mm. Luster Matte. Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 164A, 164B, 164C, and 164D. Color, abaxial surface — Greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 164B, 165B, and 165C.Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ESPE1902’ differ from the parent, an unnamedFicus benghalensisplant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ESPE1902’ differs from the variety,Ficus benghalensis‘Audrel’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 15321), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.