A new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant named ‘Balbalmink’, characterized by its pink-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, good powdery mildew resistance, and moderately vigorous, upright-compact growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:Monarda didyma.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMonardaplant botanically known asMonarda didymaand hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbalmink’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was the development ofMonardacultivars that are early flowering, have good powdery mildew resistance, and a compact growth habit.

The newMonardacultivar is an irradiation-induced sport of Balmy Purple ‘Balbalmurp’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,561, characterized by its dark purple-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage having good powdery mildew resistance, and moderately vigorous, upright-compact growth habit. The irradiation occurred on May 2011. The new cultivar was discovered as a side shoot and selected during September 2012 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2012 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbalmink’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofMonardaplant:1. Pink-colored inflorescences;2. Dark green-colored foliage;3. Good powdery mildew resistance; and4. Moderately vigorous, upright-compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially availableMonardacultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the parent Balmy Purple ‘Balbalmurp’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,561. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balbalmurp’ in at least the following characteristics:1. Plants of the new cultivar have an inflorescence color different from plants of ‘Balbalmurp’; and2. Plants of the new cultivar have a filament color that is different from plants of ‘Balbalmurp’.

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, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in a greenhouse and two months outdoors in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch prior to transplant and one pinch two weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.Botanical classification:Monarda didymacultivar Balbalmink.Parentage:Parent.—Balmy Purple ‘Balbalmurp’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,561.Propagation:Type cutting.—Terminal stem.Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 35 days.Root description.—Fine, fibrous white to brown in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, upright-compact.Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 20.5 cm. Width: Approximately 30.0 cm.Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 6.Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 16.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent on edges. Color of young stems: 146C. Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming woody 200B with age.Foliage description:General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch: Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Ovate to Lanceolate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 6.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rugose, densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to N137A with venation of 146C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 146D.Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146C.Flowering description:Flowering habit.—‘Balbalmink’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming from late spring through summer.Lastingness of individual flower.—Approximately 5 to 7 days.Inflorescence description:General description.—Type: Dense terminal verticillasters, not persistent, facing upward and outward. Quantity of inflorescences per plant: Approximately 19. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Depth or height of inflorescence: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately 6.0 cm, expands to approximately 7.0 cm as innermost flowers senesce. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 34.Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent on edges. Color: 146B.Flower description:Type.—Single, bilabiate.Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower.Bud just before opening.—Shape: Tubular, upper portion strongly recurved. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Between N66B to N66C.Corolla.—Shape: Two lips, upper lip hooded; lower lip, a single lobe; lips fused. Depth (height): Approximately 3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm.Upper lip.—Shape: Linear, hooded. Aspect: Erect. Margin: Entire. Apex: Two acute tips. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner surface when first and fully open: Closest to but lighter than N66D. Color of outer surface when first and fully open: N66C.Lower lip.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Notched lobe at apex about 4.0 mm in length and 1.0 mm in width. Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and fully open: N66D with longitudinal stripes of 65B. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 65B with an overlay of N66D.Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color: N66C.Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused except for acuminate apex of 1.0 mm in length having an entire margin. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner surface: 145B with tips of 187A. Color of outer surface: 145A with an overlay of 187A from midpoint to tips, overlay darkest at tips.Bracts.—Quantity: Approximately 25 per inflorescence in multiple whorls. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Length of larger: Approximately 4.4 cm. Width of larger: Approximately 1.7 cm. Length of smaller: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of smaller: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of larger bracts: Closest to 139A with center of base of 139D, center tinted 187A from sun. Color of lower surface of larger bracts: 137B. Color of upper and lower surfaces of smaller bracts: 139D with tips of 187A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per flower, dorsifixed. Filament length: Approximately 3.2 cm. Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately 1.6 cm. Filament color: NN155D, opaque with N66D near anther. Anther shape: Narrowly elliptic to oblong. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: N66D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, two-parted. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 83D. Style length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Style color: NN155D, opaque with an overlay of 83D near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 154D.Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toMonardahas not been observed.