plant named ‘Dark Roast’

Botanical classification:

Cultivar designation: ‘Dark Roast’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofplant, botanically known as‘Dark Roast’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Dark Roast’. ‘Dark Roast’ is a new cultivar of herbaceous perennial grown for use as a garden plant.

‘Dark Roast’ was discovered by the Inventor as a chance seedling in a garden plot in Landenberg, Pennsylvania in May of 2017. The exact parentage is unknown, however it is most likely a seedling of open pollinated ‘Espresso’ (not patented) based on its characteristics and its proximity to the new cultivar as the new cultivar was found growing in garden plot of ‘Espresso’.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by division under the direction of the Inventor in Landenberg, Pennsylvania in April of 2021. Asexual propagation by division and tissue culture tissue using meristematic tissue has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of ‘Dark Roast’. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Dark Roast’ as a new and distinct cultivar of

The probable parent plant differs from ‘Dark Roast’ in having lighter bronze colored foliage that does not last as long in the season, lighter colored flowers and lower heat tolerance. ‘Dark Roast’ can be most closely compared to thecultivars ‘Huggy Bear’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 36,258) and ‘Elizabeth Ann’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,252). ‘Huggy Bear’ is similar to ‘Dark Roast’ in having dark green-burgundy-bronze foliage and a long blooming period. ‘Huggy Bear’ differs from ‘Dark Roast’ in having flowers that are lighter and less vibrant in color, a less floriferous blooming habit, and foliage that is lighter in color. ‘Elizabeth Ann’ is similar to ‘Dark Roast’ in having dark colored foliage, and a similar blooming period. ‘Elizabeth Ann’ differs from ‘Dark Roast’ in having flowers that are light pink in color and darker colored foliage.

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 disclosures and/or sales that fall within a one-year grace period to the filing date. Disclosures includes a website listing by American Beauties Native Plants.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new

The following is a detailed description of one year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in one-gallon containers in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. 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 6edition Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.