Verbena plant named 'RIKAV36504'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV36504’, characterized by its compact, mounding and upright to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; relatively large salmon pink-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).

Claims

1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV36504’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0026] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Verbena 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 actual colors of the new Verbena plant.

[0027] The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV36504’ grown in a container.

[0028] The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV36504’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0029] The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and light levels averaged 1,500 foot-candles. Plants were seven weeks old 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. [0030] Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘RIKAV36504’. [0031] Parentage: [0032] Female, or seed, parent.—Verbena hybrida ‘Lan Peachy’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,536. [0033] Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 12V224-02, not patented. [0034] Propagation: [0035] Type cutting.—Vegetative terminal cuttings. [0036] Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C. [0037] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C. [0038] Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C. [0039] Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C. [0040] Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in color. [0041] Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. [0042] Plant description: [0043] Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and upright to eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about ten primary lateral branches developing per plant each secondary branches potentially developing at every node; pinching is not required; dense and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit. [0044] Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 9.5 cm. [0045] Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 14 cm. [0046] Plant diameter (spread).—About 21.25 cm. [0047] Lateral branch description: [0048] Length.—Variable, about 16 cm. [0049] Diameter.—About 2 mm. [0050] Internode length.—About 2 cm. [0051] Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to trailing. [0052] Strength.—Strong. [0053] Texture and luster.—Pubescent; dull. [0054] Color, developing.—Close to 146D. [0055] Color, developed.—Close to 146A. [0056] Leaf description: [0057] Arrangement.—Opposite, simple. [0058] Length.—About 2.8 cm. [0059] Width.—About 2.4 cm. [0060] Shape.—Roughly deltoid. [0061] Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded. [0062] Base.—Truncate. [0063] Margin.—Crenate. [0064] Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, coarse, hirsute; dull. [0065] Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate. [0066] Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146C. [0067] Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; dull. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D. [0068] Flower description: [0069] Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers arranged in upright hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 28 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more than 600 flowers developing per plant. [0070] Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from spring until frost in Michigan; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting. [0071] Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on the plant, flowers not persistent. [0072] Fragrance.—None detected. [0073] Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm. [0074] Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.2 cm. [0075] Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 34B. [0076] Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm by 1.9 cm. [0077] Flower depth (height).—About 2.4 cm. [0078] Throat diameter.—About 1.5 mm. [0079] Tube length.—About 2 cm. [0080] Tube diameter, distally.—About 1.5 mm. [0081] Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe length: About 9 mm. Petal lobe width: About 9 mm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire; with development, reflexing; moderately undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull. Petal texture and luster, lower surface: Mostly smooth and glabrous with minute hairs near the tube; dull. Throat texture: Mostly smooth and glabrous, distally with minute hairs; dull. Tube texture: Pubescent, minute; slightly glossy. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 42A to 42B. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 42D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 33C; venation, close to 33C; color becoming closer to 49B to 49C with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 31D; venation, close to 31D; color becoming closer to 49D with development. Throat: Close to 145D; venation, close to 145D. Tube: Close to 145C to 145D; venation, close to 145C to 145D. [0082] Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused towards the base into a slender tube. Sepal length: About 9 mm. Sepal width: Less than 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Sepal texture and luster, outer surface: Pubescent; minute; dull. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 145B. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 146A. [0083] Peduncles.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; dull. Color: Close to 146A. [0084] Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Round. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 151A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 151D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded, bi-parted. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants of the new Verbena. [0085] Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. [0086] Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii). Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Verbena plants.