Kalanchoe plant named ‘Jenna’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Jenna’, characterized by its upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; relatively large white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Description

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Jenna’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Jenna’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark in March, 2002, of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Hillary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,798, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Jenna was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark in March, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark since July, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Jenna has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices 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 ‘Jenna’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jenna’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

• • 1. Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • 2. Dark green-colored leaves.
  • 3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.
  • 4. Relatively large white-colored flowers.
  • 5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Simone 2000. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Simone 2000 in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact and less vigorous than plants of the cultivar Simone 2000.
  • 2. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe had doubly-crenate margins whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Simone 2000 had crenate margins.
  • 3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Simone 2000.
  • 4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered about three days earlier than plants of the cultivar Simone 2000.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Hillary. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Hillary in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Hillary.
  • 2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Hillary.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Rosemary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,823. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Rosemary primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivar Rosemary had white-colored flowers with rose pink-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, 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 Kalanchoe.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plan of ‘Jenna’ grown in a container.

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

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Hinnerup, Denmark in a glass-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 19° C., night temperatures were about 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10 kilolux to 50 kilolux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 10-cm containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about two weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about 15 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Jenna.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319.
    • Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Hillary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,798.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 21 to 24 days at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes. Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 6-cm to 10-cm containers.
    • Plant height at flowering.—About 22 cm.
    • Plant diameter at flowering.—About 20 cm.
    • Branching habit.—Usually about four to five lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral branch development.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 4 mm.
    • Internode length.—About 1 cm to 3 cm.
    • Aspect.—Erect.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.
    • Color.—147B.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.
    • Length, vegetative plants.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.
    • Width, vegetative plants.—About 7 cm to 10 cm.
    • Length, generative plants.—About 3 cm to 6 cm.
    • Width, generative plants.—About 1 cm to 4 cm.
    • Shape.—Ovate.
    • Apex.—Rounded.
    • Base.—Rounded.
    • Margin.—Doubly crenate; undulate.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous; leathery; succulent.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Color.—Developing and fully developed foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 147A. Developing and fully developed foliage, lower surface: 147C; venation, 147C.
    • Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: 147A. Color, lower surface: 147C.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged singly in compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about 33 to 100 open flowers and flower buds per inflorescence. Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring. Flower initiation and development can also be induced under artifical short day/long night conditions (at least 14 hours of darkness).
    • Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; under short day/long night photoinductive conditions, about 69 days are required. Actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.
    • Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance for about six weeks under interior environmental conditions.
    • Inflorescence height.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.
    • Flower length (height).—About 1 cm.
    • Flower bud.—Shape: Initially lanceolate, becoming ovate with development. Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: 145C.
    • Petals.—Arrangement: Four fused at the base. Lobe length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Rounded obovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire to crenate; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 155A. When opening, lower surface: 155A; towards the center, tinged with green. Fully opened, upper surface: 155D. Fully opened, lower surface: 155D; towards the center, tinged with green.
    • Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate, linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: 144A. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 60° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic to oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: 20B. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 20B. Gynoecium: Pistil number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 145A. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.
    • Seed.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Color: 145C.
• Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.
• Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Kalanchoes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Jenna’ as illustrated and described.