Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Artist Orange’

#‘Artist Orange’ is related to ‘Artist Yellow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,806), of which it is a color mutant.

#‘Artist Orange’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Artist Yellow’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Artist Yellow’. A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Artist Yellow’ is also made in this application. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in 2002. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Artist Orange’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2002 and propagated in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, Holland.

#The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized daisy blooms with orange/red ray-florets and green disc florets.

#The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

#FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

#FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

#This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium L. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 54 days. After the long day period to flowering plant growth retardants were applied once in a dose of 2 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. The plant is sensitive to infestation by Powdery Mildew. The plant is tolerant to low night temperatures. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow/red ray-florets and green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Artist Orange’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 1 and week 35 under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

#From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Artist Orange’ is ‘Artist Yellow’ and ‘Orange Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769). When ‘Artist Orange’, ‘Artist Yellow’, and ‘Orange Reagan’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: All three plants have daisy-type blooms. The difference of ‘Artist Orange’, ‘Artist Yellow’ and ‘Orange Reagan’ is the color of the ray-florets. In ‘Orange Reagan’ this color is orange, while it is in ‘Artist Orange’ a pattern of red streaks on an orange background, and in ‘Artist Yellow’ red streaks on a yellow background.

#The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Artist Orange’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995.