Penstemon plant named ‘Balquared’

A new and distinct cultivar of Penstemon plant named ‘Balquared’, characterized by its medium red-colored flowers with a white throat, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:Penstemonhybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPenstemonplant botanically known asPenstemonhybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balquared’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, the Netherlands during August 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development ofPenstemoncultivars having a long flowering season, increased basal branching, and an upright growth habit.

The newPenstemoncultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryPenstemonhybrid breeding selection coded C262-1, not patented, characterized by its medium fuchsia-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryPenstemon hartwegiibreeding selection not coded, not patented, characterized by its medium burgundy-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2015 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2015 in Hem, the Netherlands and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balquared’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPenstemonplant:1. Medium red-colored flowers with a white throat;2. Medium green-colored foliage; and3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a different flower color, larger sized flowers, and increased growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different flower color and reduced growth habit.

Of the many commercially availablePenstemoncultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is QUARTZ Rose ‘Novapenros’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,919. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Novapenros’ in at least the following characteristics:1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is more red than plants of ‘Novapenros’;2. Plants of the new cultivar have a stem color with a dark red overlay unlike plants of ‘Novapenros’; and3. Plants of the new cultivar have stems with dense, minute pubescence unlike plants of ‘Novapenros’.

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, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately four-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately one week before transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.Botanical classification:Penstemonhybrid ‘Balquared’.Parentage:Female parent.—ProprietaryPenstemonhybrid breeding selection coded C262-1, not patented.Male parent.—Penstemon hartwegiibreeding selection not coded, not patented.Propagation:Type cutting.—Terminal stem.Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 to 6 weeks.Root description.—Fine to medium, fibrous.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial; moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.Hardiness.—USDA Zones 6a (−10° F. to −5F/−23.3° C. to −20.6° C.).Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 54.0 cm. Width: Approximately 26.0 cm.Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances lateral branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 3 main basal branches and approximately 15 lateral branches.Lateral branch.—Shape: Round in cross section. Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately 18.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with minute hairs. Color of young stem: 146B with a moderate overlay of 187A. Color of mature stem: 146B with a heavy overlay of 187A.Foliage description:General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch: Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite and decussate.Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem with blade perpendicular and tips downward turning. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire to shallowly serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137B with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with midvein of 146D.Flowering description:Flowering habit.—‘Balquared’ is a long-day obligate, freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming throughout the summer.Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 5 to 7 days.Inflorescence description:General description.—Type: Terminal raceme, not persistent, multilateral arrangement. Quantity of open inflorescences per plant: Approximately 4. Fragrance: None detected. Length or height of inflorescence: Approximately 18.0 cm to 25.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately 7.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 11 to 26.Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm to 4.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 146B with a heavy overlay of 187A.Flower description:Type.—Single, zygomorphic.Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower.Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: N45C to N45D with 48D on abaxial side.Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate, upper lip of two lobes and lower lip having three lobes. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 3.5 cm.Upper lip lobes.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Length from throat: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: N45A to N45B. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: N45D.Lower lip lobes.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length from throat of central lobe: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of central lobe: Approximately 1.0 cm. Length from throat of lateral lobes: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lateral lobes: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: N45B to N45C. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: N45D.Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Length of throat opening: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of throat opening: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely pubescent at throat opening. Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with stripes of 61A near lower lobes. Color of outer surface: N45D with 64D on the abaxial side.Calyx.—Shape: Overlapped sepals forming a cup shape. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 137B. Color of outer surface: 137B with a moderate to heavy overlay of 187A.Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute angle. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B with a heavy overlay of 187A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, one lacking a mature anther. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 cm to 2.7 cm. Filament color: NN155D. Anther shape: Divergent. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 79D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: NN155D. Style length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Style color: NN155D tinted with N78B. Ovary length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary color: 144B.Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toPenstemonhas not been observed.