A new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera plant named ‘IFHEMUL’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; relatively rapid growth rate; densely foliated and bushy appearance; glossy purple-colored leaves with dark purple, almost black-colored venation; long flowering period; numerous inflorescences with sterile greyed orange-colored flowers; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctHeucheraplant, botanically known asHeuchera hybrida, typically grown as a landscapeHeucheraand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFHEMUL’.

The newHeucheraplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Andijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compactHeucheraplants with attractive leaf and flower coloration and good garden performance.

The newHeucheraplant originated from a cross-pollination of a proprietary selection ofHeuchera hybridaidentified as code number 083-09-C009, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofHeuchera hybridaidentified as code number C024-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent in June, 2013. The newHeucheraplant was discovered and selected as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Andijk, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the newHeucheraplant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Andijk, The Netherlands since September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newHeucheraplant are 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 ‘IFHEMUL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IFHEMUL’ as a new and distinctHeucheraplant:1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.2. Relatively rapid growth rate.3. Densely foliated and bushy appearance.4. Glossy purple-colored leaves with dark purple, almost black-colored venation.5. Long flowering period.6. Numerous inflorescences with sterile greyed orange-colored flowers.7. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the newHeucheradiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in leaf color as plants of the newHeucherahave lighter purple-colored leaves than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, leaf venation of plants of the newHeucherais darker in color than leaf venation of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the newHeucheradiffer primarily from plants of the male parent selection in leaf color as plants of the newHeucherahave darker purple-colored leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the newHeucheracan be compared to plants ofHeuchera hybrida‘TNHEUFP’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,358. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newHeucheradiffer primarily from plants of ‘TNHEUFP’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newHeucheraare more compact than plants of ‘TNHEUFP’.2. Plants of the newHeucheraare faster-growing than plants of ‘TNHEUFP’.3. Plants of the newHeucheraflower earlier than plants of ‘TNHEUFP’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer with three plants in a 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercialHeucheraproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Heuchera hybrida‘IFHEMUL’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofHeuchera hybridaidentified as code number 083-09-C009, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofHeuchera hybridaidentified as code number C024-02, not patented.Propagation:Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at temperatures about 22° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at temperatures about 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 42 days at temperatures about 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days at temperatures about 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; basal rosette plant habit with leaves developing from the base; densely foliated and dense and bushy appearance; compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; overall shape, flattened globular with upright inflorescences held above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 19.8 cm.Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About 71 cm.Plant diameter or spread.—About 35.4 cm.Leaf description:Arrangement.—Alternate in basal rosettes; simple.Length.—About 9.1 cm.Width.—About 8.7 cm.Shape.—Broadly ovate to close to orbicular; palmately lobed.Apex.—Obtuse with a small and short abruptly acute tip.Base.—Hastate, lobes touching to slightly imbricate.Margin.—About five lobes per leaf; crenate with small and short abruptly acute tips; sinuses medium in depth and divergent; slightly undulate.Texture and luster, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy.Texture and luster, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent; slightly rugose; glossy.Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between 59A and N186D; venation, close to 203C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between N77A and N186C; venation, close to between N79A and N186B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N187B; venation, close to 203B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between N77A and N186C; venation, close to N77A.Petioles.—Length: About 13.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 183B. Color, lower surface: Close to 177A to 177B.Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of each leaf. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate with acute apex. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N79B.Flower description:Flower type and flowering habit.—Single campanulate flowers arranged on axillary compound spikes; each spike with about 175 flowers; about 2,500 flowers develop per plant during the flowering season; flowers face outwardly to slightly nodding.Fragrance.—None detected.Time of flowering.—Plants flower continuously from the late spring into the summer in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about four months after planting.Inflorescence longevity.—Individual flowers last about a week on the plant; flowers not persistent.Inflorescence length.—About 33.7 cm.Inflorescence width.—About 10.1 cm.Flower diameter.—About 4 mm.Flower depth(height).—About 7 mm.Flower buds.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to between N186C and 200B.Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Narrow attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B to NN155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B to NN155D; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change with development.Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals in a single whorl; lower 60% fused. Length: About 4.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 150B tinged with close to 177B. When opening, lower surface: Close to between N186C and 200B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 150B tinged with close to 177C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146D tinged with close to 177B.Peduncles.—Length: About 63.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Erect to about 40° from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 200A.Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Moderately to densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to between N186C and 200A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Deltoid. Anther color: Close to 177D. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 168C.Gynoecium.—Pistil number: Two per flower. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length: About 3.75 mm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma diameter: About 0.2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to N144B.Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the newHeuchera.Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the newHeucherahave not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toHeucheraplants.Garden performance: Plants of the newHeucherahave been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate high temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.