Patent Publication Number: US-PP15793-P3

Title: Plant patent for Delosperma plant named ‘White Nugget’

Description:
Botanical classification/cultivar designation:  Delosperma basuticum  cultivar White Nugget. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to new and distinct cultivar of Ice Plant, botanically known as  Delosperma , and referred to by the cultivar name ‘White Nugget’. 
   The new cultivar was selected from seedlings which resulted from a cross of  Delosperma  ‘Gold Nugget’ with an unknown variety of  Delosperma , and was selected because of its pure white color and exceptional cold-heartiness. 
   The new cultivar was first discovered by Kelly Grummons in 1996 at Paulino Gardens of Denver, Colo. It was then asexually reproduced in 1997 by Cheryl J. Vestal at Paulino Gardens. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new  Delosperma  are stable, and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations. 
   The unique characteristics of ‘White Nugget’ have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of this cultivar, which in combination, distinguish this  Delosperma  from other  Delosperma  species, such as the cultivar  Delosperma  ‘Gold Nugget’. 
   An interesting characteristic of this new variety is its low, compact spreading habit. ‘White Nugget’ is consistently lower and more dense-growing than the other commonly grown  Delospermas  commercially available and known to the inventor, such as  D. cooperi, D. nubigenum  or  D. foribundum.    
   Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the pale foliage. ‘White Nugget’ has slightly less pigment in the foliage than other ice plants, like many albino sports. 
   Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the pure white flowers. Flowers of ‘White Nugget’ are pure white and do not contain any other pigment. All other commonly cultivated  Delosperma  are pink or an impure white. In addition, other varieties of  Delosperma  that display white flowers do not display cold-heartiness and are also somewhat shrubby in appearance. These other varieties are easily distinguishable from the new variety described herein. 
   Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is its exceptional cold-heartiness. ‘White Nugget’ exhibits unusual cold tolerance when compared to other  Delosperma  species, exhibiting hardiness to at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit below freezing. 
   Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is its early flowering season. ‘White Nugget’ produces blooms in early spring and they last until well into the summer. They bloom much earlier and also bloom much longer than any other variety of  Delosperma , known to the inventor, except for ‘Gold Nugget’. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The principle novel characteristic of the new variety of  Delosperma  is its pure white flower. The new variety of  Delosperma  is further characterized by its low, compact spreading habit, pale foliage, exceptional cold-heartiness and early flowering season. All of these characteristics work to provide a variety of  Delosperma  that is visually pleasing with its abundance of white flowers and easy to grow due to its ability to spread easily and withstand cold temperatures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURES 
     The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and leaf characteristics of ‘White Nugget’, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type. The distinctive characteristics of the new variety are exemplified in the accompanying illustrations, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows ‘White Nugget’ in bloom. Some of the blooms are open and some of the blooms are closed or partially closed. 
       FIG. 2  is a close up of ‘White Nugget’ in bloom. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   The following is a description in some detail of the new variety of  Delosperma . All color references made in the description refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general descriptive terms are used. The color values are determined on two year old plant material grown in Denver, Colo. on Apr. 23, 2002. The plants were grown in a greenhouse during the winter months with average daytime temperatures of about 55° F. and nighttime temperatures of about 40° F. In May, the plants were moved outdoors and grown in average outdoor temperatures for Denver, Colo.
     Botanical classification:  Delosperma  cultivar named ‘White Nugget’.   Parentage: Clearly  Delosperma  ‘Gold Nugget’ and possibly another unidentified species of  Delosperma.      Propagation:
             Type.— By cuttings.     Time to initiate roots.— 12 to 16 days. The rate of growth of the roots is approximately 18 cm between May and September.     Rooting habit.— Appearance: Fibrous and branching. Form as netting around root ball. Color: white to off-white.       
       Plant description:
             General appearance.— Compact spreading mound, (10 to 25 cm spread, 2.5 cm in height) with dense foliage and stemless flower. ‘White Nugget’ has a basal branching habit and slow to moderate growth rate.     Foliage description.— Arrangement: single, alternate, Leaf shape: Oblanceolate, terete, with attenuate leaf base, and rounded or slightly pointed apex. Leaf margin: Smooth. Leaf dimension: Range from 11 to 34 mm in length, and 2.5 to 7 mm wide. Leaf color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green group 147A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green group 147B. Foliage can take on reddish overtones due to anthocyanin during the winter cold months if kept outdoors but stays a strong green if kept under glass.       
       Flowering description:
             Inflorescence.— Superficially resembles a daisy with numerous ray-like petals.     Flowering habit.— Flowers freely with persistent blooms. A plant of approximately 18 cm exhibits 20-30 flowers at one time.     Flowering season.— Blooms heavily from March to May with scattered blooms into the late fall.     Buds.— White, RHS 155D pointed, glabrous, 3 to 12 mm in length, 5 mm across.     Flower color.— Upper surface opens a uniform white RHS 155D and undersurface is also white RHS 155D. The central flower coloration is white RHS 155D and the flower petals are white RHS 155D.     Petals.— Number: 42 to 57. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Tip: Rounded.     Texture.— Smooth.     Appearance.— Satiny.     Length.— 7 to 13 mm.     Width.— 1 to 2 mm.     Overall flower diameter.— 18 to 28 mm.     Sepals.— Length: 7-13 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Shape: lanceolate with rounded tips. Number: 42-57. Texture: Smooth. Appearance: Satiny.       
       Reproductive organs: A distinct, five sectioned green ovary that develops into an almost woody, multi-seeded capsule with one style protruding slightly from the corolla. Style branches are white. Filaments are approximately 1.0 cm tall. Anther produce yellow pollen. Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Weather tolerance: High tolerance to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −20° F. to 100° F.