plant named ‘Docalalkopi’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalalkopi’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with light red purple-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALALKOPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early-flowering and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2012 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA09-004850-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA-0413, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017 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 combinations of environmental conditions and 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 ‘Docalalkopi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docalalkopi’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

• • 1. Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit.
  • 2. Vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely branching habit.
  • 4. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Large flowers with light red purple-colored petals.
  • 6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa 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 compact than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier and more freely 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 darker red purple-colored flowers.

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

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent have white-colored flowers with green-colored venation.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealcohopi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/999,795. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Duealcohopi’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of ‘Duealcohopi’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger leaves than plants of ‘Duealcohopi’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than plants of ‘Duealcohopi’.
  • 4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of ‘Duealcohopi’.
  • 5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Duealcohopi’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Ducalcohopi’ have more red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates 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 photograph 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 is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docalalkopi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when the photograph 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 X hybrida ‘Docalalkopi’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA09-004850-001, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA-00413, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures about 20° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures about 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 20° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about 11 to 13 primary lateral branches each with about eleven secondary lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and full appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to lop of floral plane.—About 21 cm.
    • Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 58 cm.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Length.—About 38 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 4 mm.
    • Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent.
    • Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.
    • Color, developing.—Close to 144B; at the internodes, close to 144B.
    • Color, developed.—Close to 146D; at the internodes, close to 144B.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after flowering, opposite; simple.
    • Length.—About 3.5 cm.
    • Width.—About 1.1 cm.
    • Shape.—Oblanceolate.
    • Apex.—Rounded.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; matte.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137D. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144C.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually about 300 to 450 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.
    • Flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 3.2 cm.
    • Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.
    • Flower tube length.—About 1.9 cm.
    • Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled, pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 154C and 72D.
    • Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N74A; towards the throat, close to 59A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 72D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 73A; towards the throat, close to 59A; venation, close to 59A; color becoming closer to N74A with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 72D; venation, close to 59A; color becoming closer to N74A with development. Throat: Close to 7B; venation, close to 59A. Tube: Close to 151D; venation, close to 59 A.
    • Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals; sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137C. When developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to 137D.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144B.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to 145B. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther color: Close to 7B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 13C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 9.5 mm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close to 145A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 300 during the flowering season. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 46. Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200A.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain, temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 28° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa plants to date.

Claims

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