Patent Publication Number: US-PP33187-P2

Title: Phlox plant named ‘Balsukawi’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Phlox paniculata.    
     Variety denomination: ‘Balsukawi’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant botanically known as  Phlox paniculata  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsukawi’. 
     The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, the Netherlands during September 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of  Phlox  cultivars with large sized flowers, increased powdery mildew resistance and a vigorous, upright growth habit. 
     The new  Phlox  cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary  Phlox paniculata  breeding selection coded G020-12, not patented, characterized by its light pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during August 2016 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2016 in Hem, the Netherlands 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 ‘Balsukawi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant:
         1. Bright white-colored flowers with a blush red-purple center;   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.       

     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having white-colored flowers with a blush red-purple center, increased branching, and increased growth vigor. 
     Of the many commercially available  Phlox  cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is KA-POW White Bicolor ‘Balkapowibi’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,782. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balkapowibi’ in at least the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger primary and secondary inflorescences than plants of ‘Balkapowibi’;   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter flowers than plants of ‘Balkapowibi’; and   3. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of ‘Balkapowibi’.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsukawi’. The plants were approximately five months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 10 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsukawi’. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsukawi’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. 
     The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2020 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill. 
     The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately five-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 10 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an average high of 69.3° F. (20.7° C.) to an average low of 63.6° F. (17.6° C.), and supplemental lighting was provided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Phlox paniculata  ‘Balsukawi’.   Parentage:
             Female parent. —Proprietary  Phlox paniculata  breeding selection coded G020-12, not patented.     Male parent. —Unknown.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting. —Terminal stem.     Time to initiate roots. —Approximately 10 to 12 days.     Time to produce a rooted cutting. —Approximately 42 to 49 days.     Root description. —Fine to medium thickness, medium density.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching, medium density.       
       Plant description:
             Commercial crop time. —Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.     Growth habit and general appearance. —Herbaceous perennial, vigorous, upright growth habit.     Hardiness. —USDA Zone 4b (−20° F. to −25° F./−28.9° C. to −31.7° C.).     Size. —Height: Approximately 23.0 cm. Width: Approximately 36.5 cm.     Branching habit. —Freely branching, pinching will improve branching.     Branch. —Quantity: Approximately 4 basal branches. Shape: Round. Strength: Strong. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 12.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stems: 146C. Color of mature stems: 146C, becoming woody 199C with age.       
       Foliage description:
             General description. —Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 20. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.     Leaves. —Shape: Elliptic, slightly carinate. Margin: Entire, minutely ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137A with venation of 146D. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146D.     Petioles. —Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D.       
       Flowering description:
             Flowering habit. —‘Balsukawi’ is a long day obligate and is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from late spring throughout summer.     Lastingness of individual flower on the plant. —Approximately 10 days.       
       Inflorescence description:
             General description. —Type: Compound terminal panicle, flowers face upright and outwardly, self-cleaning. Quantity per plant: Approximately 14. Fragrance: Moderately sweet and pleasant. Height of primary: Approximately 8.5 cm. Width of primary: Approximately 10.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per primary inflorescence: Approximately 30. Height of secondary: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width of secondary: 7.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per secondary inflorescence: Approximately 9.     Peduncle. —Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of axillary: Approximately 3.0 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter of axillary: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146C.       
       Flower description:
             Type. —Single.     Bud. —Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower.     Bud just before opening. —Shape: Oblanceolate. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color: 146C with tips and central streak of N186A; petal portion of NN155A with streaks of 90B.     Corolla. —Shape: Salverform. Diameter: Approximately 2.7 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.3 cm.     Petals. —Quantity: 5 to 6 in a single whorl, base fused into a narrow tube. Lobe shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse, slightly wavy. Lobe length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Lobe width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: NN155D with base of NN78A and N78C. Color of lower surface when first open: NN155D with streaks of 90D. Color of upper surface when fully open: NN155D with faint coloring at base of N78B and 90C. Color of lower surface when fully open: NN155D with streaks of 90D.     Corolla tube. —Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Texture of inner surface: Smooth, glabrous with lower 5.0 mm densely pubescent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with an overlay of 90C. Color of outer surface: NN155D with faint stripes of N92A.     Calyx. —Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.     Sepals. —Quantity per flower: 5, lower half fused. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color of inner surface: 146C with tip of N186A. Color of outer surface: 146D with tip of and central streak of N186A.     Pedicel. —Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary acute angle to peduncle. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146D, occasionally tinted with N 187A.     Reproductive organs. —Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Filament length of free portion: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Sagittate. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 155D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145B. Style length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.       
       Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Disease and pest resistance: Increased resistance to powdery mildew has been observed.