Botanical designation:Salvia sylvestris.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PINK SERENADE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSalviaplant, botanically known asSalvia sylvestrisand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pink Serenade’.

The newSalviaplant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofSalvia sylvestris‘Serenade’, not patented. The newSalviaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Serenade’ in a controlled environment in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands in June, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the newSalviaplant by softwood cuttings in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands, since June, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this newSalviaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newSalviahave not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pink Serenade’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pink Serenade’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofSalvia:1. Upright plant habit.2. Strong and vigorous growth habit.3. Freely flowering habit.4. Long racemes with light purple-colored flowers.5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the newSalviacan be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Serenade’. Plants of the newSalviadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Serenade’ in flower color as plants of the newSalviahave light purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Serenade’ have mauve lilac-colored flowers.

Plants of the newSalviacan be compared to plants of ‘Pink Delight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,965. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newSalviadiffer from plants of ‘Pink Delight’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newSalviaare taller than plants of ‘Pink Delight’.2. Plants of the newSalviahave longer inflorescences with more flowers than plants of ‘Pink Delight’.

Plants of the newSalviacan also be compared to plants of ‘Moulin Rouge’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,387. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newSalviadiffer from plants of ‘Moulin Rouge’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newSalviaare taller than plants of ‘Moulin Rouge’.2. Plants of the newSalviahave longer inflorescences with more flowers than plants of ‘Moulin Rouge’.3. Flowers of plants of the newSalviaare lighter purple in color than flowers of plants of ‘Moulin Rouge’.

