plant named ‘Balsumlem’

A new and distinct cultivar of Agastache plant named ‘Balsumlem’, characterized by its broadly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; medium green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; relatively long and dense inflorescences with numerous bright yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Agastache plant, botanically known as Agastache hybrida, commonly referred to as Giant Hyssop or Hummingbird Mint and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Balsumlem’.

The new Agastache plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hem, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new upright, mounded and dense Agastache plants that flower early and for a long period of time.

The new Agastache plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Hem, The Netherlands in June 2020 of a proprietary selection of Agastache hybrida identified as code number 20-131, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Agastache hybrida identified as code number 20-146, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Agastache plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hem, The Netherlands in July 2021.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings in a controlled environment in Hem, The Netherlands and West Chicago, Illinois since July 2021 has shown that the unique features of this new Agastache plant 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 ‘Balsumlem’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Balsumlem’ as a new and distinct Agastache plant:

Plants of the new Agastache can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Agastache differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Agastache have bright yellow-colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have dark pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Agastache are not as outwardly spreading as plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Agastache can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Agastache differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Agastache have bright yellow-colored flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have peachy yellow-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Agastache are more upright than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Agastache can be compared to plants of Agastache hybrida ‘Kudos Yellow’, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 26,563. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Agastache differ primarily from plants of ‘Kudos Yellow’ in flowering season as plants of the new Agastache flower for a longer period of time than plants of ‘Kudos Yellow’. In addition, plants of the new Agastache are denser and more uniform than plants of ‘Kudos Yellow’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe 22-week old plants grown in 1.72-gallon containers. The plants were pinched two times prior to transplanting rooted young plants and grown in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Illinois for ten weeks prior to finishing the plants in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Illinois for an additional twelve weeks during the summer. Plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial Agastache production. 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.