A new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunparaobu’, characterized by its compact and vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and large red purple-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevillaplant, botanically known asMandevilla hybridaand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunparaobu’.

The newMandevillaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact, freely-branching and viningMandevillaplants with numerous large attractive flowers.

The newMandevillaplant originated from a cross-pollination in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybridaidentified as code number 02M-511, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybridaidentified as code number M37-mt2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newMandevillaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in October, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the newMandevillaplant by cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newMandevillaplant are 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 ‘Sunparaobu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunparaobu’ as a new and distinctMandevillaplant:1. Compact and vining plant habit.2. Vigorous growth habit.3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.4. Dark green-colored leaves.5. Freely flowering habit.6. Long flowering period.7. Large red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the newMandevilladiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newMandevillaare more compact than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newMandevillaand the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the newMandevilladiffer primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newMandevillahave larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newMandevillaand the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants of theMandevilla‘Sunparacore’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,959. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newMandevilladiffered from plants of ‘Sunparacore’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newMandevillahad shorter and thicker lateral branches than plants of ‘Sunparacore’.2. Plants of the newMandevillahad shorter internodes than plants of ‘Sunparacore’.3. Plants of the newMandevillahad elliptical-shaped leaves whereas plants of ‘Sunparacore’ had obovate-shaped leaves.4. Plants of the newMandevillahad larger flowers with wider throats than plants of ‘Sunparacore’.5. Plants of the newMandevillaand ‘Sunparacore’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Sunparacore’ had dark red-colored flowers.6. Plants of the newMandevillahad longer and thicker peduncles and pedicels than plants of ‘Sunparacore’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 18-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and detailed 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.Botanical classification:Mandevilla hybrida‘Sunparaobu’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybridaidentified as code number 02M-511, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybridaidentified as code number M37-mt2, not patented.Propagation:Type.—By vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.Root description.—Fibrous; light brown in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Compact and vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit.Lateral branch description.—Length: About 102 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development. Color: Close to 144B; color becoming closer to 176A with development.Foliage description:Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.Length.—About 7 cm.Width.—About 3.2 cm.Shape.—Elliptical.Apex.—Mucronate.Base.—Obtuse.Margin.—Entire.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144D.Petiole length.—About 1.2 cm.Petiole diameter.—About 1.9 mm.Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144B.Flower description:Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in axillary racemes; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about two to six flowers per inflorescence.Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower continuously from summer to late autumn in Japan.Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days; flowers not persistent.Fragrance.—None detected.Inflorescence height.—About 18.7 cm.Inflorescence diameter.—About 19.5 cm.Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla fused and five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped. Diameter: About 9.25 cm. Depth (length): About 8.2 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.8 cm. Tube length: About 6.3 cm. Tube diameter, mid-section: About 1.1 cm. Tube diameter, base: About 3.6 mm.Flower buds.—Height: About 8.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Lenticular. Color: Close to 60A.Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated tube; petals imbricate. Petal lobe length: About 4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 3.8 cm. Petal lobe shape: Orbicular to obovate. Petal lobe apex: Acute. Petal lobe margin: Entire; undulate. Petal lobe texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 59B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 59C. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 60A. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 60C. Throat: Close to 25B. Tube: Close to 63A; longitudinal lines, close to 11D.Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a single whorl; calyx, star-shaped. Sepal length: About 8.2 mm. Sepal width: About 3.2 mm. Sepal shape: Deltoid. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color: When developing and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 144B tinted with close to 42A. When developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to 144C.Peduncles.—Length: About 8.75 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly. Color: Close to 143A tinted with close to 176B.Pedicels.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly. Color: Close to 144C tinted with close to 172B.Reproddctive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers, connivent. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 9 mm. Anther color: Close to 8B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.6 cm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 143B.Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been observed on plants of the newMandevilla.Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the newMandevillahave not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toMandevillaplants.Garden performance: Plants of the newMandevillahave been observed to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 30° C.