plant named ‘USCAL81302’

Abstract

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL81302’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; double flowers with dark red purple-colored petals and petaloids with white-colored picotee edges; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL81302’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL81302’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower forms and colors and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on May 24, 2015 of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Aloha Double Pink Star’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CJ25-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 19, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 23, 2016 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 ‘USCAL81302’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL81302’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

• • 1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit.
  • 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.
  • 4. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Double flowers with dark red purple-colored petals and petaloids with white-colored picotee edges.
  • 6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Aloha Double Pink Star’, in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘Aloha Double Pink Star’ are pink with dark rose-colored venation.

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 mounding than and not as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have double-type flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have single-type flowers.
  • 3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the male parent selection are lighter red purple in color with white-colored margins.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp., ‘KLECA14264’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘KLECA14264’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have fully double flowers whereas plants of ‘KLECA14264’ have semi-double flowers.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are soft pink in color with darker rose pink-colored markings.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘KLECA15332’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘KLECA15332’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have fully double flowers whereas plants of ‘KLECA15332’ have semi-double flowers.
  • 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘KLECA15332’ differ in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘KLECA15332’ are light red purple in color with white-colored central markings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate 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 photographs 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 at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL81302’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL81302’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and early spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs 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 sp. ‘USCAL81302’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Aloha Double Pink Star’, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CJ25-01, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.
    • Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with about three to four primary lateral branches each with about five to six secondary branches; dense and bushy appearance.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 12 cm to 12.5 cm.
    • Plant diameter.—About 29 cm.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Length.—About 15 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 2 mm.
    • Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.
    • Strength.—Strong; wiry.
    • Aspect.—About 45° from stem axis.
    • Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; matte.
    • Color, developing.—Close to 146D; at the internodes, close to 146C.
    • Color, developed.—Close to 146C.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering, opposite; leaves simple.
    • Length.—About 2.4 cm.
    • Width.—About 7 mm.
    • Shape.—Elliptical.
    • Apex.—Rounded.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute pubescence; matte.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type and flowering habit.—Double-type flowers arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with typically more than 300 flowers and flower buds developing per plant; flowers face mostly upright and then to outwardly with development.
    • Fragrance.—Very faint; sweet, vanilla-like.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the spring though the summer until frost.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five days on the plant; flowers persistent.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Mostly smooth with minute pubescence along the veins; matte. Color: Slightly more grey than 76B.
    • Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm.
    • Flower length (height).—About 2.4 cm.
    • Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm; inconspicuous.
    • Flower tube length.—About 2 cm.
    • Flower tube diameter.—About 7 mm.
    • Corolla.—Arrangement: A single whorl of five fused petals and five separate petaloids (transformed stamens) forming a rose-shaped flower. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.1 cm. Petal shape: Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Broadly acute to nearly round. Petal base: Fused. Petal margin: Entire; very slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, satiny; matte to slightly glossy. Petal texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Petaloid lobe length (from throat): About 1.8 cm. Petaloid lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petaloid shape: Oval to rounded to somewhat claw-like. Petaloid apex: Broadly acute to round. Petaloid base: Attenuate. Petaloid margin: Entire; very slightly undulate. Petaloid texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, satiny; slightly glossy. Petaloid texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Brighter and more red than 71A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 70B. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74A; narrow picotee edge, close to NN155C; towards the base, close to 71A; venation, close to 71A; color becoming closer to N78B with development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to N74D; venation, close to 152C; color becoming closer to 84B with development. Petaloid lobe, when opening, upper surface: Brighter and more red than 71A. Petaloid lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 70B. Petaloid lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74A; narrow picotee edge, close to NN155C; towards the base, close to 71A; venation, close to 71A; color becoming closer to N78B with development. Petaloid lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to N74D; venation, close to 152C; color becoming closer to 84B with development. Throat: Close to 13B; venation, close to 183B. Tube: Close to 160B; venation, close to 183B.
    • Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx tube with five sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Sepal length: About 7 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to ligulate. Sepal apex: Rounded to acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Sepal color, when developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Sepal color, developed, upper surface: Close to 146A. Sepal color, developed, lower surface: Close to 146B.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45° to 60° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Close to 146C.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: To date, none observed; all transformed into petaloids. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9a to 11b.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa plants.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL81302’ as illustrated and described.