Dahlia plant named ‘VDTG43’

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘VDTG43’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark-colored foliage; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescence form; inflorescences with light and dark purple-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDahliaplant, botanically known asDahlia hybrida,and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘VDTG43’.

The newDahliais a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact container-typeDahliacultivars that have a freely branching growth habit, early and freely flowering habit, daisy inflorescence form, attractive ray floret coloration, and good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

The newDahliaoriginated from an open-pollination in Lisse, The Netherlands during the summer of 2003 of a proprietary seedling selection ofDahlia hybridaidentified as code R, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selection ofDahlia hybrida,as the male, or pollen, parent. The newDahliawas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Lisse, The Netherlands during the summer of 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the newDahliaby cuttings since the spring of 2005 in a controlled environment in Lisse, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this newDahliaare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘VDTG43’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘VDTG43’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofDahlia:1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.2. Freely branching growth habit.3. Dark-colored foliage.4. Freely flowering habit.5. Daisy-type inflorescence form.6. Inflorescences with light and dark purple-colored ray florets.7. Good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

Plants of the newDahliadiffer from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newDahliaare more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newDahliaand the female parent selection differ in ray floret coloration as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the newDahliacan be compared to plants of theDahliacultivar Scura, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahliadiffered from plants of the cultivar Scura in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newDahliawere more compact than plants of the cultivar Scura.2. Plants of the newDahliahad darker colored foliage than plants of the cultivar Scura.3. Plants of the newDahliahad larger inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Scura.4. Plants of the newDahliaand the cultivar Scura differed in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar Scura had orange red-colored ray florets.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Lisse, The Netherlands during the summer and autumn in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercialDahliaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were pinched one time about three to four weeks after planting. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about three to four months old when the photographs and description were taken.Botanical classification:Dahlia hybridacultivar VDTG43.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection ofDahlia hybridaidentified as code R, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified selection ofDahlia hybrida,not patented.Propagation:Type.—By cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures of about 20° C. to 22° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures of about 20° C. to 22° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 days at temperatures of about 20° C. to 22° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 22 days at temperatures of about 20° C. to 22° C.Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; 157D in color. If tubers develop, they are corky in texture and 199B in color.Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.Plant description:Plant form/growth habit.—Compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading; mounded plant form. Freely basal branching with about five primary lateral branches; dense and bushy plant habit. Inflorescences held above the foliage on strong peduncles. Vigorous growth habit.Plant height.—About 22 cm.Plant diameter or spread.—About 15 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 7 cm. Aspect: Erect to about 15° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Towards the base, 13A; towards the apex, 178A.Foliage description:Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves may be single or compound with three or five leaflets.Shape.—Ovate.Apex.—Acuminate.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Serrate and divided; sinuses divergent.Length.—Single leaves: About 5 cm. Compound leaves with three leaflets: About 11 cm. Compound leaves with five leaflets: About 15 cm.Width.—Single leaves: About 2.4 cm. Compound leaves with three leaflets: About 4.5 cm. Compound leaves with five leaflets: About 7 cm.Venation pattern.—Pinnate.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 139A. Developing foliage, lower surface: Darker than 191A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 139A; venation, 185C. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 191A; venation, 148A.Petiole length.—About 1 cm to 4 cm.Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.Petiole color, upper surface.—187B.Petiole color, lower surface.—148B.Inflorescence description:Appearance.—Rotate single inflorescence form with ray and disc florets. Inflorescences positioned above the foliage on strong peduncles. Inflorescences face upright to slightly outwardly. Freely flowering habit; about 25 inflorescences develop per plant. Inflorescences persistent. Inflorescences not fragrant.Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously during the summer and autumn in The Netherlands.Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good substance for about ten days on the plant and for about four to five days as a cut flower.Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Oblate to globular. Color: Towards the base, 138A; towards the apex, 177B.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.4 cm. Receptacle height: About 6 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.2 cm.Ray florets.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Aspect: Initially upright to roughly perpendicular to the peduncle. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About twelve arranged in a single whorl. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the base, 59B; towards the apex, 75B; along the veins, 59B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Towards the base, 61A; towards the apex, 73A.Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 130. Color: Immature: Towards the apex, 187A; mid-section, 171A; towards the base, 154C. Mature: Towards the apex, 20A; mid-section, 171A; towards the base, 154C.Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: 200A. Color, lower surface: 200B.Peduncles.—Length: Terminal peduncle: About 7 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 5 cm. Seventh peduncle: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 20° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 187C.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: 2B. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1.9 mm. Anther color: 17A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 21A. Gynoecium: Quantity per ray or disc floret: One. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate. Stigma color: 13C. Style length: About 1.7 mm. Style color: Close to 13A. Ovary color: 9B. Seeds: Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm. Color: 200D. Fruits: Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Color: 187A.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newDahliahave not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toDahlia.Garden performance: Plants of the newDahliahave exhibited good tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 45° C.