Petunia plant named ‘USTUNJ2401’

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUNJ2401’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; relatively small white-colored flowers with a distinct and stable red purple star-shaped color pattern; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPetuniaplant, botanically known asPetunia×hybridaand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUNJ2401’.

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 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 Jun. 16, 2012 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan ofPetunia×hybrida‘USTUN34803’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,884, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection ofPetunia×hybrida, 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 May 31, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the newPetuniaplant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 3, 2013 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 ‘USTUNJ2401’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUNJ2401’ as a new and distinctPetuniaplant:1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.2. Freely branching habit.3. Vigorous growth habit.4. Early and freely flowering habit.5. Relatively small white-colored flowers with a distinct and stable red purple star-shaped color pattern.6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘USTUN34803’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of ‘USTUN34803’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniaare more mounding than and not as creeping as plants of ‘USTUN34803’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaand ‘USTUN34803’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘USTUN34803’ have solid red purple-colored flowers.

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 the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniaare more mounding than and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newPetuniahave smaller flowers than plants of the male parent selection.3. Plants of the newPetuniaand the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored flowers with a purple star-shaped color pattern.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of ‘USTUN19603’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,675. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffered primarily from plants of ‘USTUN19603’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniawere more mounding than and not as creeping as plants of ‘USTUN19603’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaflowered earlier than plants of ‘USTUN19603’.3. Plants of the newPetuniaand ‘USTUN19603’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘USTUN19603’ had bright pink-colored flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 34° C., night temperatures ranged from 9° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000. Plants were pinched one time and were 8.5 weeks old 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:Petunia×hybrida‘USTUNJ2401’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida‘USTUN34803’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,884.Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection ofPetunia×hybrida, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; 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.—Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about 16 primary lateral branches with multiple secondary lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance; pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous growth habit.Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.Plant diameter(area of spread).—About 31 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Texture: Pubescent, minute. Luster: Matte. Color: Close to 146A.Leaf description:Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after flowers develop; leaves simple.Length.—About 3.5 cm.Width.—About 1.4 cm.Shape.—Elliptical.Apex.—Acute.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Entire.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, minute.Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—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 N137A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146B.Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.Flower description:Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 21 flower buds and open flowers per lateral branch and more than 400 flowers developing per plant.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 four to five days; flowers persistent.Fragrance.—None detected.Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Color: Close to 155A.Flower diameter.—Relatively small, about 2.7 cm.Flower depth(height).—About 3 cm.Throat diameter, distal.—About 8 mm.Tube length.—About 2.2 cm.Tube diameter, proximal.—About 3 mm.Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Broadly acute occasionally with a point. Petal lobe margin: Entire, slightly sinuate. Petal lobe texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal lobe texture, lower surface: Pubescent, minute. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent, minute. Color: When opening, upper surface: Ground color, close to NN155C; star-shaped pattern, close to 71A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N155D. Fully opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to NN155D; star-shaped pattern, close to 71B tinted with close to 72C to 72D, mid-vein, close to 71B and lateral veins, close to 72D; color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C tinted with close to 73D; venation, close to 148A; color does not fade with development. Flower throat (inside): Close to N186D; venation, close to 187A. Flower tube (outside): Close to 187C; venation, close to 148A.Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate; reflexed. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.Peduncles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 45° to 55° from the stem axis. Texture: Pubescent; minute. Luster: Matte. Color: Close to 146C.Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 152A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 202C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 148A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the newPetunia.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 3.5° C. to about 43° C.