A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Splash Yopinot Noir’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching and moderately vigorous growth habit; early flowering habit; large dark red-colored flowers; and excellent garden performance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus,botanically known asHibiscus moscheutos,and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Splash Yopinot Noir’.

The newHibiscusis a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching andHibiscuscultivars with a compact plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The newHibiscusoriginated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. during the summer of 2001, of theHibiscus moscheutoscultivar Carafe Yobordeaux, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently, as the female, or seed, parent with theHibiscus moscheutoscultivar Disco Belle Pink, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Splash Yopinot Noir was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. in April, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the newHibiscusby vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since May, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this newHibiscusare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Splash Yopinot Noir’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Splash Yopinot Noir’ as a new and distinct cultivar:1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.2. Freely branching and moderately vigorous growth habit.3. Early flowering habit.4. Large dark red-colored flowers.5. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the newHibiscuscan be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Carafe Yobordeaux. Plants of the newHibiscusdiffer from plants of the unnamed whole plant mutation of the cultivar Carafe Yobordeaux in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newHibiscusflower about two to three days earlier than plants of the cultivar Carafe Yobordeaux.2. Plants of the newHibiscushave darker red-colored flowers than plants of the cultivar Carafe Yobordeaux.

Plants of the newHibiscuscan be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Disco Belle Pink. Plants of the newHibiscusdiffer from plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Pink in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newHibiscusare shorter and fuller than plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Pink.2. Plants of the newHibiscusand the cultivar Disco Belle Pink differ in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Pink have white-colored flowers with pink-colored margins.

Plants of the newHibiscuscan be compared to plants of theHibiscuscultivar Disco Belle Red, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscusdiffered from plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Red in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newHibiscuswere taller and fuller than plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Red.2. Plants of the newHibiscusflowered about four days later than plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Red.3. Plants of the newHibiscushad larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Red.4. Plants of the newHibiscushad darker red-colored flowers than plants of the cultivar Disco Belle Red.

Plants of the newHibiscuscan also be compared to plants of theHibiscuscultivar Luna Red, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscusflowered about three days earlier than plants of the cultivar Luna Red.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Alva, Fla. in one-gallon containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 29° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 24° C. Plants were pinched about one month after planting. The description was taken about two months after the pinch. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Hibiscus moscheutoscultivar Splash Yopinot Noir.Parentage:Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus moscheutoscultivar Carafe Yobordeaux, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently.Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus moscheutoscultivar Disco Belle Pink, not patented.Propagation:Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eight days at temperatures of 30° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at temperatures of 21° C.Time to develop roots, summer.—About 12 to 14 days at temperatures of 30° C.Time to develop roots, winter.—About 18 to 21 days at temperatures of 21° C.Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and outwardly spreading plant habit. Moderately vigorous growth habit.Branching habit.—Freely branching, lateral branches potentially forming at every node.Plant height.—About 30 cm.Plant diameter(area of spread).—About 40.5 cm.Lateral branch description.—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146A.Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 10.1 cm. Width: About 7.5 cm. Shape: Cordate to ovate. Apex: Acute; narrowly tapering. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker green than 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B. Venation, upper surface: Towards the margins, 147A; towards the base, close to 187A. Venation, lower surface: Close to 144B. Petiole: Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A to 146B overlain with 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.Flower description:Flower arrangement.—Flowers develop at axillary leaf axils; typically one or two flowers per axil. Flower face upright to outward.Flower appearance.—Rotate dark red-colored flowers. Flowers are open for about two days. Flowers persistent.Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or during periods of warm weather.Flower diameter.—About 12.1 cm.Flower length(height).—About 2.8 cm.Flower bud.—Length: About 1.75 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 147B.Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals; petals imbricate. Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 6.5 cm. Shape: Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded; undulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire to slightly crenate; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; rugose. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 46A to 53A; color becoming closer to 60A with development; towards the base, close to 53A; venation, similar to lamina. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 53A; venation, similar to lamina.Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five sepals fused into a tubular calyx. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.Bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: About ten in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Between 146A and 147A.Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Straight to slightly bent. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: Numerous, about 100. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther size: About 2 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 4C. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 6A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One with five stigmas. Pistil length: About 3 cm. Style length: About 2.4 cm. Style color: Close to 60A; towards the base, close to 155D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 185B. Ovary color: Close to 144B to 144C.Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.Garden performance: Plants of the newHibiscushave been observed to be tolerant to wind and rain and to have excellent garden performance.Hardiness: Plants of the newHibiscushave been observed to be hardy to USDA Zone 5.High temperature tolerance: Plants of the newHibiscushave been observed to tolerate temperatures of about 40° C.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newHibiscushave not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toHibiscus.