<i>Verbena </i>plant named ‘KLEVP20052’

Abstract

A new Verbena plant particularly distinguished by red and light violet flowers with white at the base of the petals, and an upright, compact, and rounded habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated ‘KLEVP20052’ as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a plant approximately 12-weeks-old grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany in April 2020. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(2) The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP20052’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in 2019. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5.sup.th edition (2007). Classification: Family.—Verbenaceae. Botanical.—Verbena x hybrida. Common.—Verbena. Designation.—‘KLEVP20052’. Parentage: Female parent.—‘15.5169’ (unpatented). Male parent.—‘15.5170’ (unpatented). Plant: Growth and branching habit.—Upright with a compact and round shape. Height (from top of soil).—23.0 cm. Width (horizontal plant diameter).—34.0 cm. Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8 weeks. Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 weeks. Root description.—RHS 155B (White), fine fibrous roots. Stems: Number of branches per plant.—More than 25. Growth habit.—Upright. Length.—20.0 cm. Diameter.—0.23 cm. Internode length.—2.0 cm. Color.—RHS 139D (Green). Anthocyanin.—Absent. Texture.—Pubescent. Appearance in cross-section.—Round. Leaves: Arrangement.—Opposite. Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A (Green). Lower surface: RHS 141C (Green). Length.—4.1 cm. Width.—2.1 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Obtuse. Margin.—Crenate. Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose. Venation type.—Pinnate. Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D (Green). Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D (Green). Texture: Leathery. Flower buds: Shape.—Tall, cylindrical. Length.—1.5 cm. Diameter.—0.3 cm. Color (at tight bud).—RHS 68C (Red-Purple). Inflorescence: Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously. Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 1 week. Fragrance.—Absent. Inflorescence type.—Umbel. Length of inflorescence.—4.7 cm. Diameter of inflorescence.—5.0 cm. Number of florets per inflorescence.—17. Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A (Green). Length: 2.6 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Florets: Length.—1.8 cm. Diameter.—1.7 cm. Texture.—Smooth. Form.—Single. Corolla tube length.—1.8 cm. Corolla tube color.—RHS 157B (Green-White). Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.9 cm. Diameter of lobe: 0.9 cm. Lobe shape: Obtuse. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy, satiny. Color: Immature: Upper surface: Upper two petals are RHS 42B (Red) and the lower three petals, distally, are close to RHS N66C (Red-Purple) and proximally, close to RHS 155B (White). Lower surface: Upper two petals are RHS 51A (Red) and the lower three petals, distally, are close to RHS 69C (Red-Purple) and proximally, are close to RHS 155A (White). Mature: Upper surface: Upper two petals are RHS 42C (Red) and the lower three petals, distally, are close to RHS N66D (Red-Purple) and proximally, close to RHS 155D (White). Lower surface: Upper two petals are RHS 51B (Red) and the lower three petals are, distally, close to RHS 69C (Red-Purple) and proximally, close to RHS 155B (White). Pedicels.—Not visible. Sepals: Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Base.—Fused. Margin.—Entire. Length.—1.3 cm. Diameter.—0.2 cm. Color.—RHS 141C (Green). Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull. Reproductive organs: Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4. Appearance: Didynamous. Color: RHS 139D (Green). Filament length: 0.3 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 141D (Green). Length: 0.15 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: RHS 1B (Green-Yellow). Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1.7 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 141D (Green). Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 141D (Green). Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long. Fruit and seed set: None observed. Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

(3) ‘KLEVP20052’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

(4) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male parent Characteristic ‘KLEVP20052’ ‘15.5169’ ‘15.5170’ Flower color Upper two petals Upper two petals Upper two petals are red, while the are burgundy, are deep pink, lower three petals while the lower while the lower are light violet three petals are three petals are white lavender

(5) ‘KLEVP20052’ is most similar to the commercial Verbena POPS ‘Salmon+Red Eye’ (also known as ‘KLEVP15616’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,320). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

(6) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP20052’ ‘Salmon + Red Eye’ Growth habit Upright, compact, and Upright rounded shape Flower color Bicolor Solid with eyes Branching ability More branching than Less branching than ‘Salmon + Red Eye’ ‘KLEVP20052’