plant named ‘KERNEMBIRD’

A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia fruticans plant named ‘KERNEMBIRD’ is disclosed, characterized by bilabiate zygomorphic flowers with a nectar spur which flower acropetally towards the apex, giving a long flowering habit with no need to dead head. Flowers are medium blue in color and produce scant seed. Plants are compact and tolerant to both cold and heat. In commercial production the new variety is suitable for overwinter production cycles. The new variety is a Nemesia, normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Nemesia fruticans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Nemesia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor at a commercial greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Nemesia varieties for ornamental commercial applications.

The seed parent is an unnamed, unpatented proprietary seedling Nemesia fruticans. The pollen parent is a different unnamed, unpatented proprietary cultivar Nemesia fruticans. The cross pollination resulting in this new cultivar was made during June of 2019. The new cultivar was found and selected during February of 2020.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed at a research greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom in March of 2020 by vegetative terminal cuttings. This and subsequent propagation and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KERNEMBIRD’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KERNEMBIRD’ as a new and distinct Nemesia cultivar:

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ are comparable to the seed parent cultivar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ differs in the following:

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ are comparable to the pollen parent cultivar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ differs in the following:

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ are comparable to the commercial cultivar Nemesia ‘Hubbird’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,014. The two Nemesia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ differs in the following:

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ are comparable to the commercial cultivar Nemesia ‘Melody Lilac Blue’, unpatented. The two Nemesia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new cultivar ‘KERNEMBIRD’ differs in the following:

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘KERNEMBIRD’ plants at about 6 months of age grown in a greenhouse in Cambridge, UK in a 2 liter pot. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

PROPAGATION

PLANT

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS