Kalanchoe plant named `Best Peach`

Abstract

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named `Best Peach`, characterized by its unique and uniform pastel apricot/peach flower color; compact plant growth habit; early flowering, short response time; full plants, freely branching habit with shoots forming at every node; uniform plant habit and inflorescence display; small dark green glossy leaves; proportional leaf size to plant size; numerous flowers per plant; medium to large flowers with wide petals; unique bell-shaped flowers; resistance to Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Description

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Adans., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Best Peach`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Soquel and Half Moon Bay, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Kalanchoe cultivars having a uniform and compact plant habit; freely branching habit; attractive flower and foliage colors; short response time; resistance to diseases and insects; and good postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a self-pollination made by the inventor of a proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Adans. selection code number 813-001. The cultivar `Best Peach` was discovered and selected by the inventor in July, 1993, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated selfing in a controlled environment in Soquel, Calif. Compared to the parent selection, plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact, flower earlier and have a different flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal and node cuttings taken at Soquel and Half Moon Bay, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The cultivar `Best Peach` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength 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 `Best Peach`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Best Peach` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Unique and uniform pastel apricot/peach flower color.

2. Compact plant growth habit.

3. Early flowering, short response time.

4. Full plants, freely branching habit with shoots forming at every node. Plants do not require pinching.

5. Uniform plant habit and inflorescence display.

6. Small dark green glossy leaves.

7. Proportional leaf size to plant size.

8. Numerous flowers per plant.

9. Medium to large flowers with wide petals.

10. Unique bell-shaped flowers.

11. Resistant to Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium.

12. Not attractive to aphids.

13. Excellent postproduction longevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of `Best Peach` taken in Soquel, Calif. Flower color in the photograph may appear different from the actual color due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurements and numerical values represent typical plants in 10.5-cm containers that were grown during the spring in Northern California. Plants were grown under cultural and environmental conditions that approximated commercial practice in a plastic-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 16.degree. to 38.degree. C. and night temperatures ranging from 4.5.degree. to 13.degree. C. Plants were exposed to five weeks of long day/short nights followed by six weeks of short day/long night photoperiodic treatments.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Adans. cultivar `Best Peach`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selection code number 813-001.

Female or seed parent.--Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selection code number 813-001.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--10 to 12 days at 21.degree. C. soil temperature.

Time to develop roots.--About 20 days at 18.degree. C. soil temperature.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.--Compact and uniform. Plant shape is an inverted triangle with a rounded apex.

Branching habit.--Freely branching, generally shoots formed at every node. Plants do not require pinching.

Plant height at flowering.--About 17.5 cm from soil level to top of plant, about 17.5 cm in diameter, appropriate for 10.5-cm and smaller containers.

Vigor.--Moderately vigorous and moderate growth rate.

Production time.--Three to 6 weeks of long day/short night conditions followed by about 6 weeks of short day/long night conditions are required to initiate and develop flowers. Plants are in flower 2 to 3 weeks later. Depending on environmental conditions, a total of 11 to 15 weeks is required.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical. Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 4.75 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse to acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Leathery, glabrous, glossy, coriaceous and succulent. Petiole length: About 5 mm. Color: Young foliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliage lower surface: 147A. Mature foliage upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage lower surface: 147A/147B. Petiole: Greener than 147B. Stem color: 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Single flowers arranged in compound dichasial cymes on strong peduncles. Freely flowering and very floriferous with new buds continuing to develop. Uniform inflorescence display. Flowers are a unique bell shape.

Natural flowering season.--Plants flower under natural daylengths during the autumn and winter. Flower initiation and development can be induced under short day/long night conditions. After induction, opening of new buds continuous. Flowers persistent.

Inflorescences borne.--Above foliage, arising from leaf axils. Inflorescence of each shoot is formed by dichotomous branching.

Time to flower.--Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, plants of the cultivar `Best Peach` will start flowering after 8 or 9 weeks after start of controlled photoperiods (short day/long night conditions). First flower open is the terminal flower at the main axis and is followed by the opening of the terminal flowers of the side branches of the inflorescence.

Flower diameter.--About 1.5 cm.

Flower depth (height).--About 1.4 cm.

Quantity.--More than 150 flowers per plant.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Oblong becoming tubular/ovoid with development. Rate of opening: Rapid. Color: Initially green, 144A, becoming salmon green just before opening, then salmon orange, 41B.

Petals.--Quantity: Four. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth and satiny. Aspect: Flat to slightly reflexed. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 41B. When opening, lower surface: Light orange with darker orange spots and streaks, close to 41B. Mature, upper surface: Close to 41A/41B/41C. Mature, lower surface: Light orange with darker orange spots and streaks, close to 41B. Throat and tube: Light green, 144A, with red streaks at apex, slightly translucent.

Sepals.--Quantity: Four. Length: About 5 mm. Width at base: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Pointed. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous. Aspect: Upright. Color: Upper side: 144A, red at apex. Under side: 144A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong, erect, rigid, and upright. Length: About 6 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146A, sometimes reddish overtones.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Stamen number: Eight. Anther size: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Flat, oblong. Pollen color: Yellow, close to 12B/12C. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pistils: Pistil number: Four. Stigma shape: Flat. Stigma color: Light yellow, close to 9D. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: 144A. Ovary number: Four-celled.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been observed to be resistant to Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium.

Insect resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe are not attractive to aphids.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named `Best Peach`, as illustrated and described.