Verbena plant named ‘Lobena’

Abstract

A new Verbena plant particularly distinguished by its large blue violet flower, early flowering, and a semi-erect habit that becomes spreading as plant develops.

Description

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Lobena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida. The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘Y708’ and ‘W693’. ‘Y708’ is a blue flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘Y708’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘W693’ is a scarlet flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘W693’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘Y708’ or ‘W693’ has been patented. As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1997 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full colour, the colour shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Differences between the new variety ‘Lobena’, its parents and a similar cultivar Character ‘Lobena’ ‘Y708’ ‘W693’ ‘Temari Blue’ Flower color Blue violet Blue Scarlet Blue Earliness Early Very late Early Late Seedset No Little Much Very much

The Plant

Classification — Botanical: Verbena×hybrida.

Parentage:

Female parent.—A seedling named ‘Y708’ is one of our seedlings from our Y-generation of plants bred in 1995.

Pollen parent.—A seedling named ‘W693’ is one of our seedlings from our W-generation of plants bred in 1993.

Growth habit: Spreading, later trailing.

Plant height: 15-20 cm.

Spreading area of plant: 50-80 cm.

Growth rate: Trailing and vigorous.

Heat and cold resistance: Resistant to hot and cold weather.

Branching character: Freely branching and lateral branching at every node.

Blooming period: From April till November.

The Stem

Diameter: 2-2.5 mm.

Shape: Tetragonal.

Anthocyan pigmentation: Absent.

Length of internode: 20-50 mm, depending on the light where the plant is Propagated.

Colour: Medium green 141B.

Pubescence: Some pubescence is present.

The Foliage

Phyllotaxis: Opposite.

Shape of blade: Broadly ovate.

Texture:

Upper side.—Smooth.

Lower side.—Smooth.

Venation: Pinnate.

Leaf margin: Incised.

Leaf base: Shortly attenuate.

Leaf apex: Obtuse.

Length: 20-45 mm.

Width: 20-36 mm.

Depth of incision: 5-15 mm.

Colour:

Upper side.—Dark green 137A.

Lower side.—Medium green 141B.

Pubescence: Some pubescence is present.

Length of leaf stem: 5-10 mm.

Petiole surface structure: Slightly pubescent.

The Bud

Peduncle length: 40-80 mm, depending on season.

Size:

Diameter.—2 mm.

Length.—8-12 mm.

Shape: Elongated.

Colour: Medium green 141A.

Sepals:

Colour.—Light green 137C.

Form.—Upright.

Number.—5, fused.

Size.—5 mm.

Shape.—Elongated.

The Flower

Direction: Ascending.

Diameter: 15-17 mm.

Height: 16-18 mm.

Borne: In a cluster.

Form: Salverform; sessile on terminal spikes.

Cluster: Spike.

Colour: Blue-Violet 89B.

Eye: A very small (2 mm) pinkish Eye (76D) is present. Typically three out of the five petals exhibit this pinkish colouration at their bases.

Overlapping of petals: Separate.

No. of petals: Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.

Shape of the petals: Each petal is irregularly heart-shaped at the apex and growth together at the base.

Petal margin: Entire.

Petal surface texture: Smooth.

Size of the petal:

Length.—7-10 mm.

Width.—5-8 mm.

Spike:

Length.—20-40 mm.

Diameter.—25-45 mm.

Calyx size: 10-12 mm.

Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb: Absent.

No. of flowers per spike: 20-35.

Fragrance: A very light, rosy sweet fragrance.

Lastingness of the bloom: New florets continue to open in one spike over a period of 18 days.

Reproductive organs

One pistil and four stamens in pairs; color for both is yellowgreen 150C. The pistil size is 13-15 mm in length. Pollen is not present. The filaments and anthers are fused to the corolla. The anthers are enclosed and not a prominent feature of the flower. ‘Lobena’ does not freely set seed.

Roots

Type of roots: Fibrous. Roots start to grow on every part of the stem that contacts de soil, so not only at the nodes.

Physiological and ecological characteristics

Good tolerance to heat and cold. Strong resistance to pests and diseases, particularly powdery mildew.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterised particularly as to novelty by big blue-violet flowers, which appear earlier on the plant, and a growing habit that is first spreading and later hanging.