Patent Publication Number: US-PP33223-P2

Title: Salvia plant named ‘SCABB15-1’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species:  Salvia farinacea.    
     Variety denomination: ‘SCABB15-1’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. During 2015 seed from open-pollinated, unpatented, unnamed  Salvia farinacea  plants was planted, and the resulting seedlings evaluated for interesting characteristics. The inventor, Steve Jones selected the new variety in November 2016, at a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. The open-pollination was made during 2014. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SCABB15-1’ by terminal vegetative cuttings was first performed at the end of 2016, at a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cultivar ‘SCABB15-1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SCABB15-1’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SCABB15-1’ as a new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar:
     1. Compact plant habit.   2. Bi-color violet-blue and light violet-blue flowers.   4. Early flowering.   

     PARENT COMPARISON 
     Parents cannot be identified with certainty. 
     COMMERCIAL COMPARISON 
     Plant of the new cultivar are best compared to the commercial variety  Salvia farinacea  ‘CATHEDRAL SKY BLUE,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,929. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘SCABB15-1’ produce darker colored flowers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photograph in  FIG. 1  illustrates in full color typical plants of ‘SCABB15-1” grown in a greenhouse, in Santa Paula, Calif., in a commercial 6 inch containers. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 10 weeks from an unrooted cutting. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates in full color typical inflorescences of ‘SCABB15-1’. 
     
    
    
     The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. 
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SCABB15-1’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 28° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.
     Botanical classification:  Salvia farinacea  ‘SCABB15-1’.   

     PROPAGATION 
     
         
         Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 25° C. 
         Root description: Fine, densely fibrous. 
         Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 days at 25° C. 
       
    
     PLANT 
     
         
         Growth habit: Upright annual. 
         Pot size of plant described: 6 inch pot. 
         Height: Approximately 22 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 42 cm to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot. 
         Plant spread: Approximately 24 cm. 
         Growth rate: Rapid. 
         Branching characteristics: Free-branching, Approximately 4 primary branches. 
         Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 14 to 20 cm. 
         Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 4 to 6 mm. 
         Quantity of lateral branches: About 12. 
         Characteristics of primary lateral branches:
             Form .—Round, deeply ridged.     Color .—Near RHS Green 138A with infrequent stripes of Greyed-Purple 187A.     Texture .—Densely pubescent.     Strength .—Strong.       
     
         Internode length: Average range 2.5 to 5.5 cm. 
         Age of plant described: Approximately 10 weeks from an unrooted cutting. 
       
    
     FOLIAGE 
     
         
         Leaf:
             Arrangement .—Opposite.     Quantity .—Approximately 12 to 16 per main branch.     Average length .—Average range 6.8 to 9.3 cm.     Average width .—Approximately 2.5 cm.     Shape of blade .—Lanceolate to narrow deltoid.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Immature leaves attenuate, mature truncate.     Attachment .—Stalked.     Margin .—Nearly entire, with infrequent dentations.     Texture of top surface .—Matte.     Texture of bottom surface .—Very slightly pubescent.     Color .—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green N138B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green N138A.     Venation .—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.     Petiole .—Average Length: Average range 1.8 to 2.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Color: Upper: Near Green 137D, flushed Greyed-Purple 187A at node attachment. Lower: Near Green 138C.       
     
       
    
     FLOWER 
     
         
         Natural flowering season: Begins flowering between 6 and 7 weeks from planting a rooted cutting. Flowering continues from early Spring through late Summer. 
         Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on spikes. 
         Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last 5 days on the plant. Each spike lasts approximately 6 weeks with flowers. 
         Quantity of flowers: About 8 to 12 buds and 16 to 32 fully opened flowers per inflorescence at one time. 
         Inflorescence size:
             Diameter .—Average range 3.0 to 4.0 cm.     Height .—Average range 8.0 to 16.0 cm.       
     
         Peduncle:
             Length .—Average range 7.0 to 14.0 cm.     Diameter.— 3 to 4 mm.     Color .—Near RHS Violet 83A.     Orientation .—Upright, straight.     Strength .—Strong.     Texture .—Pubescent.       
     
         Corolla:
             Petal arrangement .—The corolla is sympetalous and typically bilabiate with 2 small, highly fused lobes forming an upper lip and 3 larger highly fused lobes forming a lower lip.     Margin .—Nearly entire, slightly scalloped.     Tip shape .—Upper lip tip retuse, lower lip tip rounded with scallops.     Length .—Upper lip Approximately 5 mm, lower lip Approximately 7 mm.     Width .—Upper lip Approximately 3 mm, lower lip Approximately 1.0 cm.     Petal quantity .—One upper lip and one lower lip with three lobes. Upper lips are entirely fused at base.     Texture .—Upper lip is highly pubescent. Lower lip is smooth and hairless.     Aspect.— 75 to 90° to stem.     Petaloids .—Not present.       
     
         Color: Petals:
             Lower lip.—       When opening .—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet N88A. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet N88A, interior streak 91C and 91D.     Fully opened .—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89A. Lower surface: Near RHS along margin Violet-Blue N89A, interior blotch near RHS Violet-Blue 91D.     Fading .—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89A, blotch at base Near RHS White N155A. Lower surface: Near RHS along margin Violet-Blue 93A, interior Near RHS Violet-Blue 94C.       
     
         Color: Petals:
             Upper Lip .—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet N88A. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet N88A, interior streak 91C and 91D.     Fully opened .—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89A. Lower surface: Near RHS along margin Violet-Blue N89A, interior blotch near RHS Violet-Blue 91D.     Fading .—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89A, blotch at base Near RHS White N155A. Lower surface: Near RHS along margin Violet-Blue 93A, interior Near RHS Violet-Blue 94C.       
     
         Bud:
             Shape .—Ovoid.     Length .—Approximately 0.5 cm.     Diameter .—Approximately 0.3 cm.     Color .—Near RHS Violet-Blue 93A, base Violet-Blue 92C.       
     
         Calyx:
             Length .—Approximately 0.6 cm.     Diameter .—Approximately 0.5 cm.     Shape .—Tubular.     Sepals .—Shape: Quantity per flower: 2, fused to form a tube. Length: Approximately 0.6 cm. Width: Approximately 0.5 cm. Margin: Entire. Texture: Pubescent. Calyx Tube Color: Immature: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89A. Mature: Near RHS violet-Blue 92D, strongly flushed Violet-Blue N92C.       
     
         Bracts:
             Quantity.— 2 at the base of each verticillaster.     Shape .—Narrow Deltoid.     Tip .—Accuminate.     Texture .—Pubescent.     Length .—Approximately 1.5 cm.     Width .—Approximately 0.6 cm.     Color .—Upper surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186B. Lower surface: Near RHS Gree138C, veins Violet-Blue N92A.       
     
         Persistence: Non-persistent. 
         Fragrance: Very faint fragrance, non-aromatic  Salvia.    
       
    
     REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
     
         
         Stamens:
             Number.— 2.     Filament length .—Approximately 0.6 cm.     Filament color .—Near RHS Violet-Blue 91D.       
     
         Anthers:
             Shape .—Very narrowly elliptic.     Length .—Approximately 1 mm.     Color .—Near RHS Violet-Blue N91A.     Pollen .—Pollen production not observed.       
     
         Pistil:
             Number.— 1.     Length .—Approximately 1.2 cm.     Style .—Length: Approximately 1 cm. Color: Near RHS N155A.     Stigma .—Shape: Forked, curled. Color: Near RHS Violet-Blue N91B. Ovary color: Near RHS Green-White 157A.       
     
       
    
     OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 
     
         
         Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. 
         Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to  Salvia  have been observed. 
         Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures between 5 to 35° C.