A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Rap Orch’, characterized by its compact, low and outwardly spreading, and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and uniform flowering habit and bright purple-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofVerbenaplant, botanically known as (Verbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisecta)×(Verbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisecta), and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Rap Orch’.

The newVerbenais a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compactVerbenacultivars with early and uniform flowering, good basal branching, attractive flower and foliage coloration, and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

The newVerbenaoriginated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2001 of a proprietary selection ofVerbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisectaidentified as code number 00-1206-3, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryVerbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisectaselection identified as code number 00-1194-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Rap Orch was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in September, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in Gilroy, Calif., since September, 2001 has shown that the unique features of this newVerbenaare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Rap Orch’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Rap Orch’ as a new and distinct cultivar:1. Compact, low and outwardly spreading, and decumbent plant habit.2. Freely branching habit.3. Early and uniform flowering habit.4. Bright purple-colored flowers.5. Relatively less susceptible to Powdery Mildew.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the newVerbenadiffered from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newVerbenaflowered earlier than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newVerbenaand the female parent selection differed in flower coloration as plants of the female parent selection were rose pink in color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the newVerbenadiffered from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newVerbenawere more vigorous and larger than plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newVerbenaand the male parent selection differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection had pink-colored flowers.

The newVerbenacan be compared to the cultivar, Mylena, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,192. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the newVerbenadiffered from plants of the cultivar Mylena in the following characteristics:1. Leaves of plants of the newVerbenawere more deeply dissected than leaves of plants of the cultivar Mylena.2. Plants of the newVerbenahad fuller flowers than plants of the cultivar Mylena.3. Plants of the newVerbenaand the cultivar Mylena differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Mylena had lavender pink-colored flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Rap Orch have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the summer with day temperatures about 24 to 32° C., night temperatures about 13 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings and were pinched twice. 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.Botanical classification: (Verbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisecta)×(Verbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisecta) cultivar Rap Orch.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—ProprietaryVerbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisectaselection identified as code number 00-1206-3, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—ProprietaryVerbena hybrida×Verbena tenuisectaselection identified as code number 00-1194-2, not patented.Propagation:Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at 22 to 24° C.Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner.—About three to four weeks at 22 to 24° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Form.—Compact, low and outwardly spreading, and decumbent plant habit.Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous and freely-branching with about six main stems and multiple secondary lateral branches.Plant height.—About 16 cm.Plant diameter or spread.—About 48 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: Vegetative branches, about 2 cm; reproductive branches, about 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length: About 3.9 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Deltoid; highly dissected, fern-like. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Deeply dissected. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Coarse, pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate, netted. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147B. Petiole: Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 146B.Flower description:Flower type and habit.—Single upright salverform flowers arranged on terminal racemes; flowers sessile. Freely flowering with about 45 flowers per raceme; about three racemes per lateral branch. Inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliage. Flowers last about five to seven days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers not persistent.Fragrance.—None detected.Flowering season.—In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.Inflorescence size.—Height: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 cm.Flower size.—Diameter: About 1.7 cm. Tube length: About 2.5 cm.Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular. Color: 81A.Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower fused at base. Lobe length: About 7 mm. Lobe width: About 5 mm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety, smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: 78A. When opening, lower surface: 77B. Fully opened, upper surface: 78A; towards the center, slightly brighter than 78A; color becoming closer to 78B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: 77C. Throat: Close to 150B.Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five, fused into a tube. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Coarse, pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 147C.Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: Upright or curving upward on horizontal stems. Strength: Strong. Color: 146A.Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 145B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 150A. Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 145B. Style length: About 1.3 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color: 145B.Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newVerbenahave been observed to be relatively less susceptible to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the newVerbenahave not been observed to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common toVerbena.Temperature tolerance: Plants of the newVerbenahave been observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 40° C.