Verbena plant named ‘Balazvio’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balazvio’ characterized by its violet purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, good basal branching, and compact, semi-upright growth habit.

Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balazvio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant botanically known as Verbena×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balazvio’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during February 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Verbena cultivars with attractive flower coloration, continuous flowering, small, dark green-colored foliage, excellent basal branching, and a trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Verbena×hybrida breeding selection designated BFP-2256, not patented, characterized by its lavender colored-flowers having a dark eye, medium green-colored foliage, and semi-trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was ‘Lan Roy Pur’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,980, characterized by its dark purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and mounded-trailing growth habit. The new Verbena was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balazvio’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

• • 1. Violet purple-colored flowers;
  • 2. Medium green-colored foliage;
  • 3. Good basal branching; and
  • 4. Compact, semi-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Lan Bule’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,604. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Lan Bule’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences than plants of ‘Lan Bule’; and
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a different flower color from plants of ‘Lan Bule’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balazvio’. The plants were grown 10 cm pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balazvio’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of ‘Balazvio’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of two flowers of ‘Balazvio’ showing variation in color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Apr. 11, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 80° F. (21° C. to 26° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 65° F. (17° C. to 18° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

• Botanical classification: Verbena×hybrida cultivar Balazvio.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Proprietary Verbena×hybrida breeding selection designated BFP-2256, not patented.
    • Male parent—‘Lan Roy Pur’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,980.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
    • Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.
    • Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.
    • Root description.—Fibrous.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • Crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting.
    • Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact, semi-upright.
    • Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 10.6 cm. Width: Approximately 48.8 cm.
    • Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 6 main branches per plant with lateral branches potentially forming at every node.
    • Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 23.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Hispid. Color: 144A. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately 2.7 cm.
    • Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 15. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite: Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Irregular. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.8 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Densely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent and densely pubescent along veins. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with venation of N145D. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 138A with venation of 144D. Petiole length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Petiole diameter: Approximately 1.6 mm. Petiole texture: Densely pubescent. Petiole color: 144D.
• Flower description:
  • • Flowering habit.—‘Balazvio’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse environment.
    • Time to first flower.—Approximately 10.8 weeks from sticking of unrooted cutting.
    • Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 to 7 days.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • Type.—Corymb. Quantity per plant: Approximately 9 at11 weeks. Height: Approximately 4.1 cm. Width: Approximately 5.8 cm. Quantity of fully opened flowers per inflorescence at any one time: Approximately 18. Fragrance: None.
    • Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Hirsute. Color: 144A.
• Flower description:
  • • Type.—Sessile, salverform. Fragrance: None.
    • Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 6 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower.
    • Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, globular. Length: Approximately 3.8 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.5 mm. Color: Closest to 83B.
    • Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 4.2 mm.
    • Petals.—Quantity: 5 fused at base forming a tube. Appearance: Velvety. Aspect: Flat. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous with sparse glandular-pubescence around the corolla tube opening. Gland color: N83A. Length of upper petal from tube: Approximately 9.4 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 9.6 mm. Length of lateral petal from tube: Approximately 8.6 mm. Width of lateral petal: Approximately 8.4 mm. Length of lower petal from tube: Approximately 8.3 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 7.3 mm. Color of upper surface when first open: Closest to N79B. Color of upper surface when fully open: Closest to but darker and bluer than N81A at margin and N79B at base. Color of lower surface when first open: Closest to N82A. Color of lower surface when fully open: Closest to N82B with N82A at edges. Whiskers of 155C surround the opening of the corolla tube.
    • Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at corolla: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.2 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Tube color of inner and outer surfaces: 145D.
    • Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length/Depth: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.2 mm.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Sepal length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Sepal width: Approximately 1.7 mm. Texture of upper surface: Densely glandular-pubescent. Texture lower surface: Glabrous. Gland color: N83A. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 143A in the central region and 143C where the margins fuse. Stipule shape: Lanceolate. Stipule apex: Acuminate. Stipule length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stipule width at base: Approximately 1.4 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface of stipule: Densely glandular-pubescent. Texture of lower or outer surface of stipule: Glabrous. Stipule color: 143D at base transitioning to 143A at tip.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther shape: Ovate, bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 144A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 144A. Style length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 144C.
• Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
• Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Verbena has not been observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balazvio’, substantially as herein shown and described.