Patent Publication Number: US-PP28964-P2

Title: Coreopsis plant named ‘Balupteam’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Coreopsis  hybrid. 
     Variety denomination: ‘Balupteam’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Coreopsis  plant botanically known as  Coreopsis  hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balupteam’. 
     The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Santa Paula, Calif. during June 2012. The objective of the breeding program was the development of  Coreopsis  cultivars having large inflorescences, substantially continuous blooming throughout the summer, and mounded growth habits. 
     The new  Coreopsis  cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary  Coreopsis  hybrid breeding selection coded 79571-12, not patented, characterized by its single-type, light creamy-white colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary  Coreopsis grandiflora  breeding selection coded 87067-1, not patented, characterized by its semi-double-type, light yellow-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2013 in a controlled environment in Santa Paula, Calif. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2013 in Santa Paula, Calif. 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 ‘Balupteam’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Coreopsis  plant:
         1. Single-type, creamy-white colored inflorescences;   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.       

     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a more compact growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different flower form and flower color. 
     Of the many commercially available  Coreopsis  cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the  Coreopsis  cultivar BIG BANG ‘Star Cluster’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,035. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Star Cluster’ in at least the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color, in particular the color at the base of the ray floret, different from plants of ‘Star Cluster’;   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves than plants of ‘Star Cluster’; and   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter inflorescences than plants of ‘Star Cluster’.       

    
    
     
       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 ‘Balupteam’. The plants were approximately 17 weeks old and grown in 1.7 gallon containers. Plants were finished outdoors for 7 weeks 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 ‘Balupteam’. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Balupteam’. 
     
    
    
     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 July 2016 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill. 
     The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium in 1.7 gallon containers for approximately 17 weeks. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. For approximately 8 weeks after transplant, greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. (15.6° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. (12.8° C.) during the night. For the final 7 weeks, plants were grown outside in West Chicago, Ill. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Coreopsis  hybrid cultivar Balupteam.   Parentage:
             Female parent. —Proprietary  Coreopsis  hybrid breeding selection coded 79571-12, not patented.     Male parent. —Proprietary  Coreopsis grandiflora  breeding selection coded 87067-1, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting. —Terminal stem.     Time to initiate roots. —Approximately 10 to 12 days at 70° F. (21° C.).     Time to produce a rooted cutting. —Approximately 5 to 6 weeks at 70° F. (21° C.).     Root description. —Fibrous, thin, white in color.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching, dense.       
       Plant description:
             Commercial crop time. —Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.     Growth habit and general appearance. —Herbaceous perennial, moderate growth vigor, compact-mounded growth habit.     Hardiness. —USDA zones 5 to 9.     Size. —Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 29.5 cm. Width: Approximately 40.0 cm.     Branching habit. —Freely branching, pinching improves basal branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant: Approximately 9 main branches each having approximately 4 lateral branches.     Main branches. —Strength: Moderately strong. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately 15.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 5.5 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color of young and mature stems: 144A.       
       Foliage description:
             General description. —Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 4. Type: Simple and trifoliate. Fragrance: None. Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect: Petiole is acute angle to stem; blade is somewhat perpendicular to stem. Shape of leaf and leaflet: Elliptic. Margin of leaf and leaflet: Entire. Apex of leaf and leaflet: Acute. Base of leaf and leaflet: Attenuate, simple leaf sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate.     Simple leaf. —Length: Approximately 9.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and fully open: 137B with indistinguishable venation except for midvein of 146B. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: Closest to 138B with indistinguishable venation except for midvein of 146B.     Mature trifoliate leaf. —Length of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 8.5 cm. Width of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 5.0 cm. Length of terminal leaflet: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width of terminal leaflet: Approximately 1.4 cm. Length of lateral leaflet: Approximately 3.5 to 4.0 cm. Width of lateral leaflet: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and fully open: 137B with indistinguishable venation except for midvein of 146B. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: Closest to 138B with indistinguishable venation except for midvein of 146B. Length of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: 146B.       
       Flowering description:
             Flowering habit. —‘Balupteam’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn.     Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant. —Approximately 7 to 10 days.       
       Inflorescence description:
             General description. —Type: Daisy-type composite, actinomorphic. Persistent. Shape: Round. Aspect: Erect. Arrangement: Terminal capitulum, positioned above and below the foliage. Quantity per plant: Approximately 11. Diameter: Approximately 4.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm. Fragrance: Slightly acrid.     Peduncle. —Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 14 cm to 16.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous, slightly glossy. Color: Between 144A and 144B.     Bud. —Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 5 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open inflorescence. Quantity per plant: Approximately 50.     Bud just before opening. —Shape: Obovoid. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Depth: Approximately 9.0 mm. Color: 151A and 152C.     Ray florets. —Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 8. Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect: Flattened. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Incised. Base: Rounded. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, abaxially ribbed. Color of upper surface when first open: 4D with base of 4A. Color of lower surface when first open: 4D with base and venation of 4A. Color of upper surface when fully open: Lighter than 4D with base of 4B. Color of lower surface when fully open: Lighter than 4D with base and venation of 4B.     Disc florets. —Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 60. Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular, approximately lower 90% fused. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at tube opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous with glandular pubescence on tips. Color of upper or inner surface when first and fully open: Closest to 154D, translucent with tips of 17A. Color of lower or outer surface when fully open: Closest to 154D, translucent with tips of 17B.     Disc. —Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 5.0 mm.     Receptacle. —Shape: Dome. Height: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: 145D.     Phyllaries. —Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 16. Arrangement: In two equally divided whorls. Base of inner whorl fused into cup-shaped base surrounding receptacle, non-imbricate, held close to ray florets.     Outer phyllaries. —Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, glossy. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 137B.     Inner phyllaries. —Shape of free portion: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 152D with cup-shaped portion of closest to 144B.     Reproductive organs. —Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity: 5. Stamen length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Filament color: 154D. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 154D, translucent, slightly tinted with 183A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Stigma shape: 2-branched. Stigma length: Each branch approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 17B. Style length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Style color: 154D. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D.       
       Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to  Coreopsis  has not been observed.