Lantana plant named ‘Balandrise’

A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balandrise’, characterized by its purple-pink and yellow-orange bicolored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:Lantana camara.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLantanaplant botanically known asLantana camaraand hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balandrise’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during September 2004. The objective of the breeding program was the development ofLantanacultivars with continuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a well-branched, vigorous growth habit.

The newLantanacultivar was the result of a self-pollination of ‘Simon Yellow’, not patented, characterized by its medium yellow-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during July 2005 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balandrise’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofLantanaplant:1. Purple-pink and yellow-orange bicolored inflorescences;2. Dark green-colored foliage; and3. Vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in inflorescence color.

Of the many commercially availableLantanacultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is BANDANA Rose ‘Bante Rossa’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,148. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Bante Rossa’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller inflorescences, as measured by inflorescence width, than plants of ‘Bante Rossa’;2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from plants of ‘Bante Rossa’; and3. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of ‘Bante Rossa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 11, 2007 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.Botanical classification:Lantana camaracultivar Balandrise.Parentage:Parent.—‘Simon Yellow’ not patented.Propagation:Type cutting.—Terminal stem.Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28 days.Root description.—Fibrous.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, semi-upright.Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 24.8 cm. Width: Approximately 30.8 cm.Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant: Approximately 5.Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong, becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 18.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 30.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 5.4 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of mature stem: 199B.Foliage description:General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 8. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem. Shape. Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.2 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 5.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower surface: Scabrous with a mixture of glandular pubescence along venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 137B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 137C with venation of 138C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 139A with venation of 137B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 137B with venation of 138C.Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous with a mixture of glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.Flowering description:Flowering habit.—‘Balandrise’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer buds to dropping of last flower.Inflorescence description:General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant: Approximately 11. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width: Approximately 4.1 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 45.Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.Flower description:General description.—Type: Salverform.Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in progression from the margin to the center of the inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 7.Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at apex. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: 16A with an overlay of 30A.Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm.Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical. Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat: Approximately 4.9 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent. Pubescence is a mixture of colorless and N74D. Color of upper surface when first open: 16A with margins of 30B. Color of lower surface when first open: 16D with an overlay of 30D on lateral petals. Color of upper surface when fully open: 29A with a strong overlay of N74D; with age petal color transitions to N74B, transitioning to N74A in center of flower. Color of lower surface when fully open: Lighter than N74D with N74D at margins.Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at tube opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous at base, gradually becoming densely pubescent at tube opening with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Pubescence is a mixture of colorless and N74B. Color of inner surface: 145D. Color of outer surface: 145C at base, transitioning at midpoint to 145D with an overlay of N74B.Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces: 144D.Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape: Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid, bilobed. Anther length: Less then 1 mm. Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 13C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 144A, translucent. Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: Colorless, translucent. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: N144B.Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toLantanahas not been observed.