Dahlia plant named ‘Fidahhypre’

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Fidahhypre’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large decorative inflorescences with red-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDahliaplant, botanically known asDahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fidahhypre’.

The newDahliaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new pot-typeDahliacultivars that have a freely branching and flowering habit, attractive ray floret coloration and good postproduction longevity.

The newDahliaplant originated from an open-pollination in Hillegom, The Netherlands of an unnamed selection ofDahlia hybrida,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofDahlia hybridaas the male, or pollen, parent. The newDahliawas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the newDahliaplant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since 2006, has shown that the unique features of this newDahliaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newDahliahave not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature 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 ‘Fidahhypre’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fidahhypre’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofDahlia:1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.2. Freely branching growth habit.3. Freely flowering habit.4. Large decorative inflorescences with red-colored ray florets.5. Good postproduction longevity.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newDahliadiffer primarily in ray floret coloration and plant shape.

Plants of the newDahliacan be compared to plants ofDahlia hybrida‘Gallery Rivera’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,802. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahliadiffered from plants of ‘Gallery Rivera’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newDahliawere more freely branching than plants of ‘Gallery Rivera’.2. Plants of the newDahliaflowered earlier than plants of ‘Gallery Rivera’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands during the late summer and autumn and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercialDahliaproduction. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about 10 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Dahlia hybrida‘Fidahhypre’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection ofDahlia hybrida,not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection ofDahlia hybrida,not patented.Propagation:Type.—By cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at temperatures of about 22° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at temperatures of about 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 12 days at temperatures of about 22° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 days at temperatures of about 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; tuber development has not been observed.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.Plant description:Plant form/growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant form; broad inverted triangle; freely basal branching with about four primary branches each with numerous secondary branches and inflorescences held above the foliage on strong peduncles; bushy and dense habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.Plant height.—About 23 cm.Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Aspect: Erect to somewhat outwardly spreading. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143A.Foliage description:Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves may be single or compound with three or five leaflets.Shape.—Ovate.Apex.—Acute.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Serrate.Leaf length.—About 16 cm.Leaf width.—About 14 cm.Leaflet length.—About 7 cm.Leaflet width.—About 5.5 cm.Venation pattern.—Pinnate.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A to 143B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 143D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 138C.Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A to 143B. Color, lower surface: Close to 143A.Inflorescence description:Appearance/arrangement.—Rotate decorative inflorescence form with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above the foliage on strong peduncles; inflorescences face upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit, about 21 inflorescences develop per plant.Fragrance.—None detected.Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from late spring through the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about seven to eight weeks after planting.Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good substance for about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Globular, flattened. Color: Close to N144B to N144C.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 9.8 cm. Depth (height): About 2.8 cm.Ray florets.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Aspect: Initially upright to eventually roughly perpendicular to the peduncle. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 33A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 33A; color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 33B to 33C.Disc florets.—None observed.Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About six arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143A tinted with close to 183B.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per floret: About ten. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 6C. Anther shape: Narrowly elliptic. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 17B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to N25B. Gynoecium: Not observed. Seeds/fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newDahliahave not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toDahlia.Garden performance: Plants of the newDahliahave exhibited good tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C.