Patent Publication Number: US-2012042425-P1

Title: Salvia plant named &#39;flamenco rose&#39;

Description:
BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION 
       Salvia hybrida/Salvia  Plant 
     VARIETAL DENOMINATION 
     cv. Flamenco Rose 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The new  Salvia  cultivar of the present invention was discovered during August or September, 2004, while growing in a plant nursery setting among other  Salvia  plants at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A. The new cultivar is of unknown parentage and likely includes  Salvia microphylla  in its ancestry. The new plant was distinguished from other  Salvia  plants growing in the nursery where it was discovered primarily through a study of its distinctive blossoms having a hot pink coloration combined with other attractive botanical characteristics identified hereafter. Had the single plant of the present invention not been discovered and carefully preserved, it would have been lost to mankind. 
     The plant is a perennial that can be grown to advantage without protection in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11. 
     It was found that the new  Salvia  cultivar possesses the following combination of characteristics:
         (a) displays an upright and bushy growth habit,   (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive blossoms having a hot pink coloration,   (c) displays vigorous large bright green foliage,   (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning, and   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.       

     The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguished from other  Salvia  cultivars, such as the ‘Wild Thing’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). For instance, the ‘Wild Thing’ cultivar displays a less upright growth habit and forms blossoms that are more fuchsia rather than hot pink in coloration. 
     The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes. 
     The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings for several generations. Such asexual reproduction as performed at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmly fixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new cultivar asexually reproduces in a true-to-type manner from one generation to another. 
     The new cultivar has been named ‘Flamenco Rose’. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, a close view of typical specimens of the new cultivar while growing outdoors. The hot pink blossoms are illustrated as is the large bright green foliage. The plants had been reproduced by the rooting of cuttings in a greenhouse and subsequently had been transplanted to the outdoors near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The photograph was obtained during June 2010 when the plants were approximately one year of age. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Color terminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to the reader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customary dictionary significance. The description is based on the observation of typical specimens of the new cultivar at an age of approximately one year during July 2010 while growing outdoors near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.
     Plant:
             Form.— bushy, vigorous, and generally upright.     Height.— commonly up to approximately 50 cm on average.     Width.— commonly approximately 30 cm on average.     Growth habit.— perennial in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.     Leaf arrangement.— opposite.     Leaf configuration.— elliptic to oblong.     Leaf length.— commonly approximately 2.5 to 3 cm on average.     Leaf width.— commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 cm on average.     Leaf margin.— repand.     Leaf texture.— commonly slightly fleshy.     Leaf blade color.— Green Group 137C on the upper surface, and Green Group 138B on the under surface.     Leaf blade apex.— acute to obtusely rounded.     Leaf blade base.— mainly obtuse.     Scent.— leaves commonly display a tangy fruity scent when crushed.     Petiole shape.— somewhat flattened.     Petiole length.— variable and commonly approximately 5 to 9 mm.     Petiole width.— commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 mm.     Petiole color.— Yellow-Green Group 145A.       
       Inflorescence:
             Time.— prolonged blooming period beginning in May and extending into September.     Type.— terminal raceme.     Diameter.— commonly approximately 11 mm on average.     Length.— commonly approximately 17 mm on average.     Number.— commonly up to approximately 40 flowers per plant on average.     Configuration.— tubular, and two-lipped.     Pedicel length.— commonly approximately 3 to 4 mm on average.     Pedicel width.— commonly approximately 2 mm on average.     Pedicel color.— green, Yellow-Green Group 145B.     Calyx shape.— broadly campanulate and flared towards the apex.     Calyx rib number.— commonly 13 and longitudinally disposed.     Calyx length.— commonly approximately 10 mm on average.     Calyx width.— commonly up to 6 mm.     Calyx texture.— glandular and puberulent on the upper and under surfaces.     Calyx color.— on the upper lobe Red-Purple Group 60B at the apex and Yellow-Green Group 145A at the base, and on the lower lobes primarily Yellow-Green Group 145B.     Calyx lobe number.— 3.     Calyx upper lobe number.— 1.     Calyx upper lobe shape.— acute.     Calyx upper lobe length.— commonly approximately 4 mm on average.     Calyx upper lobe width.— commonly approximately 4 mm in width.     Calyx lower lobe number.— 2.     Calyx lower lobe shape.— acute.     Calyx lower lobe length.— commonly approximately 3 mm on average.     Calyx lower lobe width.— commonly approximately 4 mm on average.     Corolla shape.— tubular proximally to two-lipped distally.     Corolla length.— commonly approximately 2.2 to 2.5 cm on average.     Corolla color.— the base commonly is near Yellow-White Group 158D, the tube is near Red-Purple Group 58C, and the lower lip is near Red-Purple Group 58C infused with some White Group 155A.     Corolla tube length.— approximately 23 mm on average.     Corolla tube width.— approximately 3 mm on average.     Corolla tube depth.— approximately 7 mm on average.     Corolla tube lip number.— 2.     Corolla upper lip number.— 1.     Corolla upper lip shape.— hood-like.     Corolla upper lip length.— commonly approximately 9 mm average.     Corolla lower lip length.— 2, suborbicular.     Corolla lower lip shape.— banner-like, and extended downward.     Corolla lower lip outline.— obovate.     Corolla lower lip length.— commonly approximately 12 mm on average.     Corolla lower lip diameter at tip.— approximately 12 mm on average.     Style length.— approximately 2.5 cm on average.     Style width.— commonly approximately 1 mm on average.     Style attachment site.— at four-lobed ovary between lobes.     Stamen number.— 2.     Stamen shape.— seesaw-like.     Filament length.— approximately 6 mm on average.     Connective length.— approximately 12 mm on average.     Anther length.— approximately 2 mm on average.     Anther diameter.— approximately 1 mm on average.     Anther color.— Yellow-Orange Group 16A.     Anther attachment site.— at outer end of the connective.       
       Development:
             Vegetation.— vigorous and displays a tendency to quickly regrow following pruning.     Blooming.— displays long blooming season.     Fertility.— not observed with the plants being sterile during observations to date.     Winter hardiness.— the plant is a perennial that can be grown in at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.     Disease resistance.— no particular sensitivity to disease has been encountered during observations to date.