<i>Petunia </i>plant named ‘JM09191940’

Abstract

‘JM09191940’ is a new and distinct Petunia cultivar having an abundance of pink flowers and the unique characteristic of a cold hardiness to temperatures as low as −10° C. (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8).

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named ‘JM09191940’ having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This new Petunia is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. 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 Petunia plant.

(2) FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing the foliage and flowers of a one-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant. Photo taken May 14, 2020, in Fredericksburg, Va.

(3) FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing the foliage and flowers of a two-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant. Photo taken May 4, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Va.

(4) FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing the foliage and flowers of a three-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant. Photo taken Jun. 6, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va.

(5) FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing the foliage of a two-year-old ‘JM09191940’ Petunia plant during the winter of 2019-2020 covered in ice and snow. Photo taken Feb. 18, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Va.

(6) FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing the same plant in FIG. 4 after the snow and ice melted. Photo taken Feb. 23, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Va. and demonstrating the cold tolerance of the new Petunia variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(7) The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of the Petunia cultivar known by the denomination ‘JM09191940’. The detailed description was taken on Aug. 20, 2022, in Fredericksburg, Va. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, 2001 Edition). Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

Technical Description of the Variety

(8) Classification: Botanical name.—Petunia x hybrida. Common name.—Petunia. Cultivar name.—‘JM09191940’. Parentage: Sport of Petunia x hybrida cultivar ‘USTUNI6001’. Propagation: Division by stem tip cuttings Time to initiate roots summer and winter.—About 15 to 20 days at 20° C. Time to develop roots summer and winter.—About 15 to 20 days at 20° C. Plant description: Plant form and habit.—“JM09191940’ has a very vigorous growth habit. It is an annual flowering plant in regions that have temperatures that fall below −10° C. and a perennial flowering plant in regions having temperatures of −10° C. or above (e.g., USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 and above). The growth of ‘JM09191940’ is indeterminate; initially upright then semi-upright to outwardly spreading and cascading; uniformly mounded plant form. ‘JM09191940’ had a freely branching habit with twelve lateral branches and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral branches on plant. Cut back enhances growth of lateral branches of ‘JM09191940’. Height.—From soil to top of flowers about 35 cm. Diameter.—About 60 cm. Branching habit.—Vigorous. Lateral branches.—Average of about 12; length about 35 cm. Foliage: Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering and then opposite after flowers develop Number of leaves per branch.—Average of about 14. Leaves.—Simple. Leaf length: about 4 cm. Leaf width: about 2.5 cm. Shape.—Ovate. Apex.—Broadly acute. Base.—Attenuate. Margin.—Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent. Leaf color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface, 147B. Venation.—Pinnate. Venation color.—Upper surface: 146B. Lower surface: 146D. Petiole length.—About 6 mm. Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surface.—Pubescent. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—146C. Roots: Fine white, close to 155D, in color. Root habit.—Freely branching. Flowers: Flower type and habit.—Single slaverform flowers; flower face upward and outward; Freely flowering habit, about 12 to 16 flower buds and open flowers per lateral branch. Flower size.—Diameter: about 5 cm. Depth: about 4.5 cm. Tube length: 3.5 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 1 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: about 3 mm. Flower buds.—Length: about 4 cm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Shape: elongated obovate. Color 77C. Flower lobing.—Medium. Flower venation.—Medium. Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five fused petals forming a funnel. Length from throat: About 2 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Roughly fan shaped to obovate. Apex: Broadly acute with central points. Margin: Entire; ruffled. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture lower surface. Petal lobes: smooth, glabrous; tube pubescent. Petal Color: When opening upper surface 67C. When opening lower surface 62C. Fully opened, upper surface: 68B; toward throat and central petal lobe stripes, 68B venation, 64C; color becoming close to 69B and venation, 68A, with development. Fully opened, lower surface 65B; venation 142C. Flower throat inside 68D; venation 68B. Flower tube outside 64B; venation 146B. Sepals.—

(9) Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of petals fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: upper and lower surfaces. Pubescent. Color: upper and lower surfaces 143A. Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle: 45° to 60° from the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146C. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Number per flower five. Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: 1 mm×1 mm. Anther color: 196B. Pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 198B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: one. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded; anvil-shaped. Stigma color: 146B. Ovary color: 146C. Natural flowering season.—Long-day response; long flowering period early spring to late frost, freeze in late autumn slows flower production; flowers continuously. Plants flower in early to mid-May from over wintering root stock. Flowers are persistent. Flower longevity.—Five to seven days. Fragrance.—Indistinct. Seed/fruit production: None observed. Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have the vigor exhibited by ‘USTUNI6001’. Plants of the new Petunia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. Weather tolerance: Excellent tolerance to cold weather as well as hot weather, USDA Plant Hardiness: Zone 8. Lasting quality of plant: Good; Blooms from early spring to late fall. Usage: Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, rail boxes patio planters and landscape use. Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have good to excellent garden performance. Plants of the new Petunia are noted for drought resistance, heat tolerance and cold tolerance. This new Petunia performs well at temperatures between −10° C. and 38° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL PLANT

(10) ‘JM09191940’ differs from its parent, cultivar ‘USTUNI6001’, by at least having a greater cold tolerance. Specifically, ‘JM09191940’ is cold hardy up to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8, while ‘USTUNI6001’ is cold hardy to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10.

COMPARISON WITH ANOTHER PETUNIA VARIETY

(11) Plants of the new Petunia plant named ‘JM09191940’ were compared to the Petunia variety named Supertunia® Bordeaux™ Petunia hybrid ‘Lanbor’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,144) (hereinafter ‘Lanbor’). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fredericksburg, Va., plants of ‘JM09191940’ differ from the plants of ‘Lanbor’ in the following characteristics: 1. ‘JM09191940’ grows to be about 25% larger than ‘Lanbor’ over the same time period. 2. ‘JM09191940’ is more cold tolerant than ‘Lanbor’. 3. ‘JM09191940’ has flowers that are about 3 cm larger than ‘Lanbor’ and the venation in the flowers is more pronounced in ‘Lanbor’.