New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duesunwht’

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Duesunwht’ characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New GuineaImpatiensplant, botanically known asImpatiens hawkeriand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesunwht’.

The newImpatiensplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New GuineaImpatiensplants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The newImpatiensplant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in December, 2014 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeriidentified as code number NN-0021, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeriidentified as code number NN-1176, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newImpatiensplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Apr. 21, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the newImpatiensplant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiensplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duesunwht’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duesunwht’ as a new and distinctImpatiensplant:1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.2. Vigorous growth habit.3. Freely branching habit.4. Dark green-colored leaves.5. Freely and early flowering habit.6. White-colored flowers.7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the newImpatienscan be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the newImpatiensdiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newImpatiensare more compact than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newImpatiensflower slightly later than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the newImpatienscan be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the newImpatiensdiffer primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newImpatiensare more compact than plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newImpatiensand the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers with a lavender-colored tint.

Plants of the newImpatienscan be compared to plants ofImpatiens hawkeri‘Duesspwhtcld’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,690. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newImpatiensdiffer primarily from plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newImpatiensare more compact than plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’.2. Leaves of plants of the newImpatiensare darker green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’.3. Plants of the newImpatiensand ‘Duesspwhtcld’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Duesspwhtcld’ have white-colored flowers with a pink-colored blush.

Plants of the newImpatienscan be compared to plants ofImpatiensXhybrida‘SAKIMP018’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,768. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newImpatiensdiffer primarily from plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newImpatiensare more compact than plants of ‘SAKIMP018’.2. Plants of the newImpatiensand ‘SAKIMP018’ differ in leaf color as plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ have variegated leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New GuineaImpatiensproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Impatiens hawkeri‘Duesunwht’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeriidentified as code number NN-0021, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeriidentified as code number NN-1176, not patented.Propagation:Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to seven days at temperatures about 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about five primary lateral branches each with about four to six secondary lateral branches developing per plant; vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.Height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23 cm.Height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24 cm.Plant diameter or spread.—About 55 cm.Lateral branch description:Length.—About 21 cm.Diameter, primary lateral branches.—About 1.5 cm.Diameter, secondary lateral branches.—About 1 cm.Internode length.—About 4.2 cm.Strength.—Strong.Aspect.—About 25° to 45° from vertical.Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.Color, when developing and fully developed.—Close to 144A.Leaf description:Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of four or five leaves; simple.Length.—About 7.8 cm.Width.—About 3.4 cm.Shape.—Elliptical.Apex.—Acuminate.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Entire with ciliation.Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte to slightly glossy.Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy.Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D.Flower description:Flower type and flowering habit.—Large single rounded triangular and slightly cupped axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically at least 150 flowers develop per plant; flowers positioned above and beyond the foliar plane; flowers typically face mostly upright to outwardly.Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about two to three days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.Fragrance.—None detected.Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin flowering about ten weeks after planting.Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to N155D.Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm by 5.7 cm.Flower depth.—About 3 cm; with spur, about 4.6 cm.Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a single whorl. Banner petals, length: About 2.2 cm. Banner petals, width: About 4 cm. Lateral petals, length: About 2.6 cm. Lateral petals, width: About 2.6 cm. Lower petals, length: About 3.2 cm. Lower petals, width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155D. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color does not change with development.Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl; two lateral sepals and one center sepal modified into an elongated spur. Lateral sepals, length: About 1.7 cm. Lateral sepals, width: About 7 mm. Center sepals, length: About 1.4 cm. Center sepals, width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate; center sepal modified into a curved spur. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; towards the apex, close to 157A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; towards the apex, close to 145B. Spur length: About 5.2 cm. Spur diameter: At the flower, about 2 mm. Spur texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Spur color: Close to 145C to 145D.Peduncles.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 45° to 55° from branch axis. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color: Close to 145B to 145C.Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther size: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 160D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 157B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 157B. Ovary color: Close to 137B.Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the newImpatiensto date.Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the newImpatienshave not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toImpatiensplants to date.Garden performance: Plants of the newImpatienshave been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.