Petunia plant named ‘USTUN87002’

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN87002’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPetuniaplant, botanically known asPetuniaXhybridaand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN87002’.

The newPetuniaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching and uniformly moundingPetuniaplants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The newPetuniaplant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 12, 2014 in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan ofPetuniaXhybrida‘Salsa Pure White’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection ofPetuniaXhybridaidentified as code number P605-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newPetuniaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 10, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the newPetuniaplant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 11, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this newPetuniaplant 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 ‘USTUN87002’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN87002’ as a new and distinctPetuniaplant:1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit.2. Vigorous growth habit.3. Freely branching habit.4. Early and freely flowering habit.5. White-colored flowers.6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Salsa Pure White’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Salsa Pure White’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniaare more spreading and mounding than and not as creeping as plants of ‘Salsa Pure White’.2. Plants of the newPetuniahave smaller flowers than plants of ‘Salsa Pure White’.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers with dark blue-colored centers.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of ‘Conbloss’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,556. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Conbloss’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniaare more mounding than and not as trailing as plants of ‘Conbloss’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaare more freely branching than plants of ‘Conbloss’.3. Plants of the newPetuniahave smaller flowers than plants of ‘Conbloss’.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of ‘KL 1117’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of ‘KL 1117’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniaare more mounding than and not as trailing as plants of ‘KL 1117’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaare smaller than plants of ‘KL 1117’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and early spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercialPetuniaproduction. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were eleven weeks from planting rooted cuttings 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.Botanical classification:PetuniaXhybrida‘USTUN87002’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—PetuniaXhybrida‘Salsa Pure White’, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection ofPetuniaXhybridaidentified as code number P605-01, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about six to seven primary lateral branches each with about two to four secondary lateral branches per primary lateral branch developing; dense and bushy appearance; pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous growth habit.Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 16.5 cm.Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 18 cm.Plant diameter(area of spread).—About 30 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading, about 45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; viscid; matte. Color, developing: Close to 146C. Color, developed: Close to 146C.Leaf description:Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after flowers develop; leaves simple.Length.—About 4.5 cm.Width.—About 2 cm.Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.Apex.—Acute.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Entire.Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute pubescence; matte.Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146C.Petioles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.Flower description:Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about more than 184 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long flowering period, plants flower from early spring until frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting.Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days; flowers persistent.Fragrance.—None detected.Flower buds.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 145B.Flower diameter.—About 4.6 cm.Flower depth(height).—About 4 cm.Throat diameter, distal.—About 9 mm.Tube length.—About 3.3 cm.Tube diameter, proximally.—About 4 mm.Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal lobe shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Rounded. Petal lobe margin: Entire; flat to slightly undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Scattered pubescence; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D occasionally slightly tinged with close to 62D; venation, close to 148C; color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C occasionally slightly tinged with close to 62D; venation, close to 144C; color does not change with development. Flower throat (inside): Close to 145B to 145C; venation, close to 146C. Flower tube (outside): Close to 145C to 145D; venation, close to 145B.Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a single star-shaped whorl. Calyx length: About 1.5 cm. Calyx diameter: About 2.2 cm. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146A. When opening and fully developed, lower surface: Close to 146A.Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 30° to 45° from the stem axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 146B.Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 158B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 159C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 146D.Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the newPetuniato date.Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the newPetuniahave not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common toPetuniaplants.Garden performance: Plants of the newPetuniahave been observed to have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.