Blueberry plant named ‘ZF06-079’

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-079’ is provided. ‘ZF06-079’ is an ornamental variety intended for nursery, landscape, and home garden use. The plant has striking blue/green foliage with pink new growth throughout spring and summer and turns an attractive lavender color in the fall. The new variety ripens in mid-July in Oregon and produces mildly sweet berries in loose clusters. The plant is vigorous, with an estimated chilling requirement of 500 hours.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species: Family—Ericaceae. Genus—Vaccinium.Species—corymbosum.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘ZF06-079’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry hybrid known as aVaccinium corymbosumhybrid and referred to as ‘ZF06-079’, as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-079’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg., in 2006. ‘ZF06-079’ is an ornamental variety intended for nursery, landscape, and home garden use. The new variety has striking blue/green foliage with pink new growth throughout spring and summer and turns an attractive lavender color in the fall. The new variety ripens in mid-July and produces mildly sweet berries in loose clusters. The plant is vigorous, with an estimated chilling requirement of 500 hours.

The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Toro’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘FLX-2’ (pollen parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,381). The female parent was produced by a cross between ‘Earliblue’ (unpatented) and ‘Ivanhoe’ (unpatented). The pollen parent was produced by a cross between ‘FL92-9’ (unpatented) and ‘Sunshineblue’ (unpatented). The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-079’ has been planted in replicated trials since 2007.

The new variety differs from the unpatented female parent ‘Toro’ in that ‘ZF06-079’ has smaller leaves, is smaller in size, and has pronounced pink and red new growth.

‘ZF06-079’ differs from the patented male parent ‘FLX-2’ in that ‘ZF06-079’ is smaller in size and has more pronounced pink and red new growth.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-079’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-079’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices, such as temperature and light intensity, without any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-079’:1. Striking blue/green foliage with pink new growth;2. Lavender fall foliage;3. Compact growth habit.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘ZF06-079’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from The Pantone Book of Color (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.Classification:a. Family.—Ericaceae.b. Genus.—Vaccinium.c. Species.—corymbosum.d. Common name.—Highbush blueberry.Parentage:Female parent.—Toro (unpatented).Male parent.—FLX-2 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,381).Market class: ‘ZF06-079’ is an ornamental blueberry variety intended for the nursery, landscape, and home gardening market.

PLANT

Plant size: Medium-sized.a. Height of plant.—Average of 30 inches (about 76 cm).b. Canopy diameter.—Average of 24 inches (about 61 cm).Growth habit: Compact and round.Plant vigor: Good, produces an average of 6 new canes per year.Twigginess: Low.Suckering: Low.Evergreenness: Evergreen in Lowell, Oreg.Chilling requirement: Approximately 500 hours of temperatures at or below 45° F. (about 7° C.).Cold hardiness: Expected range of adaptability USDA hardiness zones 6-8.Productivity: In Lowell, Oreg., the average per plant harvest weight on 3-year-old plants is 4 lbs (about 1.8 kg).Propagation: Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.Disease resistance/susceptibility:a. Phytophthora.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.b. Stem blight.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.c. Cane canker.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.d. Leaf spot.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.e. Bud mites.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.Survival: Good. Plants survive and grow well in both nursery and field settings.

TRUNK AND BRANCHES

Surface texture:a. Surface texture new wood.—Smooth.b. Surface texture1-year wood.—Smooth.c. Surface texture3-year and older wood.—Smooth turning to rough on older wood.Color:a. Color new wood.—Pantone Pale Star 12-0626.b. Color1-year wood.—Pantone Mellow Green 12-0426.c. Color3-year and older wood.—Pantone Aztec 18-1130, Pantone Gray Sand 13-1010, and Pantone Green Oasis 15-0538.

FOLIAGE

Internode length: Average of 19.7 mm.Leaf dimensions:a. Leaf length.—Average of 52 mm.b. Leaf width.—Average of 30 mm.Leaf shape: Elliptical, with acute apex and base.Leaf margin: Entire.Leaf color upper leaf surface:a. New leaf color.—Apex of some leaves is Pantone Mellow Green 12-0426, turning to various shades of red and pink (Pantone Poinsetta 17-1654, Pantone Crushed Berry 18-1418, and Pantone Holly Berry 17-1633).b. Mature leaf color.—Pantone Elm Green 18-0121.Leaf color lower leaf surface: Pantone Epsom 17-0324.Pubescence:a. Pubescence upper leaf surface.—Absent.b. Pubescence lower leaf surface.—Absent.c. Pubescence leaf margins.—Absent.Precocity: Flowers appear before new vegetative growth in Lowell, Oreg.Petiole:a. Petiole length.—Average length of 3.6 mm.b. Petiole color.—Pantone Green Banana 14-0434.c. Petiole surface texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

FRUIT

SEEDS