plant named ‘USCAL84704’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL84704’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; dark violet-colored flowers with dark purple-colored centers and yellow-colored throats; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL84704’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL84704’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit, freely branching growth habit, unique flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 9, 2008 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code name CJ08-76, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code name CJ08-32, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 27, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 28, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and various cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions 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 ‘USCAL84704’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL84704’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

• • 1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.
  • 2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.
  • 3. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • 4. Dark violet-colored flowers with dark purple-colored centers and yellow-colored throats.
  • 5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have solid dark violet-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have purple-colored flowers with dark violet-colored centers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘USCALI99’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,679. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCALI99’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than plants of ‘USCALI99’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI99’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘USCALI99’ had purple-colored flowers with dark purple-colored venation.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘Imperial Purple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘Imperial Purple’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than plants of ‘Imperial Purple’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Imperial Purple’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Imperial Purple’ had solid dark violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. 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 Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL84704’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL84704’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL84704’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code name CJ08-76, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ08-32, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.
    • Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about six primary lateral branches each with about multiple secondary lateral branches; pinching enhances branching; moderately vigorous, dense and bushy growth habit.
    • Plant height.—About 12.8 cm.
    • Plant diameter.—About 32 cm by 38 cm.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Length.—About 19 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 2 mm.
    • Internode length, vegetative.—About 1 cm.
    • Internode length, reproductive.—About 1.8 cm.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.
    • Texture.—Pubescent.
    • Color.—Close to 146D.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering, opposite; leaves simple.
    • Length.—About 3.5 cm.
    • Width.—About 1.5 cm.
    • Shape.—Elliptical.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.
    • Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually about 49 open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch; flowers face upright and outwardly.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from spring though the autumn in California.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on the plant; flowers persistent.
    • Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.
    • Flower length (height).—About 2.8 cm.
    • Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm by 6 mm.
    • Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.
    • Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2.5 mm.
    • Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Color: Close to 79D.
    • Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.1 cm. Petal shape: Roughly cordate. Petal apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 83B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to N88D; venation, close to N79A. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 83B to 83C; towards the throat, close to 79A; venation, close to 79A; color does not fade with development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 79C; venation, close to 79A to 79B. Throat: Close to 151D; venation, close to 79D. Tube: Close to 145C; venation, close to 78B.
    • Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to N137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146D.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per flower. Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C tinted with close to 79C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 12C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color: Close to 146C. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.
• Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL84704’ as illustrated and described.