Verbena plant named &#8216;Balazdelim&#8217;

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named &#8216;Balazdelim&#8217;, characterized by its outwardly spreading plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; and purple-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida , and hereinafter referred to by the name Balazdelim .

The new Verbena is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely flowering Verbena cultivars with an outwardly spreading growth habit. large full inflorescences and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Verbena originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2000 of a proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 323, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 151, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Balazdelim was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings taken at Arroyo Grande, Calif., since January, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are 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 Balazdelim . These characteristics in combination distinguish Balazdelim as a new and distinct cultivar:

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower coloration.

The new Verbena can be compared to the cultivar, Sunvivabupa, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in West Chicago, Ill., plants of the new Verbena differed from plants of the cultivar Sunvivabupa in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Verbena were less vigorous than plants of the cultivar Sunvivabupa.

2. Plants of the new Verbena had smaller leaves than plants of the cultivar Sunvivabupa.

3. Plants of the new Verbena were more freely flowering but had fewer flowers per inflorescence than plants of the cultivar Sunvivabupa.

4. Flower color of plants of the new Verbena was more red than flower color of plants of the cultivar Sunvivabupa.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Balazdelim has 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 photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in West Chicago, Ill., under commercial practice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 21 to 26 C., night temperatures ranging from 17 to 18 C. and light levels ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about 12 weeks from planting rooted cuttings in 10-cm containers. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Female parent. Proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 323, not patented.

Male parent. Proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 151, not patented.

Time to initiate roots. About 7 days at 18 C.

Time to develop roots. About 21 days at 18 C.

Growth and branching habit. Freely basal branching; about five lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching, that is, removal of the terminal apices, enhances branching with lateral branches potentially forming at every node. Moderately vigorous.

Plant diameter or spread. About 41.5 cm.

Flower type and habit. Single upright salverform flowers arranged on hemispherical corymbs. Freely flowering with about 19 flowers per inflorescence. Inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliage. Flowers last about three to four days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Seed/fruit. Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 40 C.