Salvia plant named ‘Florsalbro’

A new and distinct Salvia cultivar named ‘Florsalbro’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact form, early flowering and abundant dark rose colored flowers. The new variety is a Salvia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species:Salvia nemerosa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The newSalviacultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Tobias Bräunig, in Quedlinburg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newSalviavarieties with denser plant habits, strong garden performance, in a range of flower colors. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during Summer of 2010.

The seed parent is an unpatented, proprietary,Salvia nemerosa. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in Summer 2011, at a greenhouse in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed during 2011, at a research greenhouse in Quedlinburg, Germany. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘Florsalbro’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Florsalbro’ as a new and distinctSalviacultivar:1. Dark rose flower color.2. Compact plant form.3. Abundant flowering.4. Early flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ differ in the following:1. Dark rose flower color. The seed parent has a light rose colored flower.2. More vigorous growth rate.3. More abundant flowering.4. Earlier flowering.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ can also be compared to the commercial varietySalvia‘Mainacht“, unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘Florsalbro’ differs in the following:1. More compact plant.2. More inflorescences per plant.3. Deeper bright rose color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Florsalbro’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 10° C. to 30° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.Botanical classification:Salvia nemerosa‘Florsalbro’.

PROPAGATION

PLANT

Growth habit: Upright perennial.Pot size of plant described: 1 gallon pot.Height: Approximately 32 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 48 cm to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot.Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm.Growth rate: Rapid.Branching characteristics: Moderately well branched. Approximately 6 to 8 primary branches per plant.Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 28 cm.Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.35 cm.Quantity of lateral branches: About 18 to 24.Stem:Color.—Near RHS Green 138A.Texture.—Minute pubescence and ribbed.Internode length: Average 5.5 cm.Age of plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from 3 rooted cuttings.

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests common toSalvia nemerosahave been observed.Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures within USDA zones 3 to 8.