plant named ‘T2173’

Botanical classification:

Variety denomination: ‘T2173’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofplant, botanically known as‘T2173’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘T2173’. The new cultivar ofis an evergreen perennial grown for container and landscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars ofplants with compact plant habits, floriferous blooming habits, and large flowers in a unique range of flower colors.

‘T2173’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in May of 2018 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from crosses between unnamed and unpatented plants from the Inventor's breeding program.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in September of 2018 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘T2173’ as a unique cultivar of

Both the female and male parents are similar to ‘T2160’ in having flowers with similar coloration. The female parent differs from ‘T2160’ in having a more vigorous growth habit. The male parent differs from ‘T2160’ in having a more compact plant habit. ‘T2173’ can be most closely compared to thecultivars ‘T1854’ (U.S. Plant Patent No. 34,730) and ‘P15R1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,674). ‘T1854’ is similar to ‘T2173’ in having a low growing plant habit, and a high flower count. ‘T1854’ differs from ‘T2173’ in having flowers that are pink-purple in color with less distinct centers. ‘P15R1’ is similar to ‘T2173’ in having a low-growing plant habit and a high flower count. ‘P15R1’ differs from ‘T2173’ in having flowers that are smaller in size and lighter violet purple in color and have less petals per flower, and in having a less dense growth habit.

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102 (b) (1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date. Website listings include listings by Garden Crossings, Plant Addicts, Darwin Perennials, Ball Seed Company, Proven Winners, Creekside Gardens, Classy Groundcovers, Monrovia, Bloomables, Moan Nursery, Phoenix Perennials, Emerald Coast Growers, Griffin Greenhouse Supply, Garden Center Marketing, QVCtv, Mississippi State University, James Greenhouses, Germania Seed, Westcan Greenhouses, and Plantipp.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new

The following is a detailed description of 1.5-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 17-cm containers in an unheated greenhouse in Waddinxveen, Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.