Impatiens plant

A novel impatiens variety having a strong, rigid, arching growth habit and an attractive contrast between the variegated foliage and large pink blossoms.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of 
Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens, and referred to by the 
cultivar name Liberty, developed by me through controlled breeding by 
crossing the unpatented seedline 74-214-4 (Mikkelsen) (seed parent) with 
the unpatented Seedling 74-197-11 (Mikkelsen) (pollen parent). Asexual 
reproduction of terminal or stem cuttings taken by me in Ashtabula, Ohio 
has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stabilized 
and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations. 
The following characteristics distinguish the new Impatiens from both its 
parent varieties and other cultivated Impatiens of this type known and 
used in the floriculture industry. 
1. In mature plants the terminal whorl of leaves develops very close to the 
previous node; flowering often occurs at several nodes on the same stem at 
the same time giving a very floriferous appearance. 
2. The top and two bottom petals develop a near white throat at their 
bases; the two side petals are less distinct in this characteristic. 
3. The wide leaves have a broad area of cream to light yellow variegation 
surrounding the mid vein. 
4. The color contrast of the foliage and flowers is distinct and 
attractive. 
5. The plant has strong rigid growth that develops more to an arching 
flowing pattern rather than straight up formal growth. 
6. Flower size is above average for this series of new hybrids, measuring 
up to 6.5 to 7 cm. in diameter. 
7. Top petal is largest, being up to 4 cm. across, with the two side petals 
being smallest, and up to 2.5 cm. across. 
8. Cutting production from stock plants is above average on mature plants 
because of the closeness of the terminal internodes. 
9. This hybrid should be grown in a very lightly shaded environment to 
prevent spotting of the light variegated area in the leaves. By way of 
contrast, most New Guinea hybrids developed during my current breeding 
program can be grown in full sunlight. 
10. Flower color is similar to the cultivar Preamble in winter, but not in 
summer when Preamble is pink. Preamble is disclosed in my pending 
application Ser. No. 764,024 filed Jan. 31, 1977.

The following is a detailed description of my new Impatiens cultivar based 
on plants produced under commercial practices in greenhouses at Mikkelsens 
Inc., Ashtabula, Ohio, and flowering in November, 1976. Color references 
are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where 
general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. 
Parentage: A controlled pollination of Mikkelsen seedling 74-214-4 as the 
seed parent crossed with Mikkelsen seedling 74-197-11 as the pollen 
parent. 
Propagation: 
Type cutting.--Tip or stem cuttings 2-3 cm. long. 
Time to visible rooting.--10 days at 21.degree. C summer, and 15 days at 
20.degree. C winter. 
Rooting habit.--Typical for New Guinea Impatiens; rapid very profuse in 
both primary and secondary roots, dendritic. 
Plant description: 
Form.--Side branches have an arching flare to give a graceful placement 
appearance. 
Habit of growth.--Heavy, rigid arching, side shoot growth, internodal space 
5-6 cm., slow to medium rate of growth. 
Foliage.--Highly variegated, symmetrical. Size: 5-6 cm. wide by 12-15 cm. 
long with petiole 3 cm. long, so that some leaves may be up to 18 cm. from 
base of petiole to apex. Shape: symmetrically elliptical, apex acuminate, 
base cuneate, generally flat. Texture: Firm, leathery, glabrous, rugose. 
Margin: Nearly entire, quite ciliolate. Color: Young foliage, top side: 
outer area green 137A-B, inner area yellow orange 21-B; under side: outer 
area yellow green 146-B, inner area 21-C. Mature foliage, top side: outer 
area green 137B-C, inner area cream yellow; under side: outer area yellow 
green 147B-C, inner area yellow orange 18B-C. Venation: pinnately, 
arcuate. 
Flowering description: 
Flowering habit.--Flowering is sequentially around the whorl of leaves on a 
one to one ratio of flowers to leaves; often 6 to 8 flowers in bloom at 
one time at each whorl. 
Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate, occurs all year 
around but distinctly more flowering in the late fall, winter and spring 
than in summer. 
Flower buds.--Immature, symmetrically conical, with two true sepals, and a 
scale-like sepal on the back of the top petal. A hollow spur emerges from 
the interior as the bud develops. 
Flowers borne.--Individually on a pedicel light red to pink in color 5-6 
cm. long and 2 mm. in diameter at the base. Flowering is sequentially 
around the whorl of leaves but uniformly in a short period of time. 
Quantity of flowers.--Typical for New Guinea Impatiens but appears highly 
floriferous because of quantity in flower at one time. 
Petals.--Shape: Top petal very large, up to 4 cm. in diameter, two side 
petals frequently display several indentations on the top lobes, all five 
petals have indented apices with top petal apex drawn backwards by the 
scale like sepal. Color: Top side in winter when opening near 44D or 43C, 
fading to quite stable 44D; under side red 41C. Number of petals: 5; one 
top petal side petals and two bottom petals with light throat. Spur is 
nearly circular in early stages, developing to curve 6 cm. long and is red 
53A. 
reproductive organs.--Stamens: One in number. Anther shape: Hooded over 
pistil, color somewhat darker than petals red 44C. Pollen color: Dull or 
flat white. Pistils: Stigma shape: Flat, circular, irregular surface. 
Style: Translucent green in color. Ovaries: One, 4-5 mm., dark green in 
color.