Campanula plant named ‘PKM01’

A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘PKM01’, characterized by its vigorous growth habit, upright violet flowers, and characteristic linear leaves.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed:Campanulasp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCampanulaplant, botanically known asCampanulasp., commonly known as Bellflower, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PKM01’.

The newCampanula, ‘PKM01’, is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søhus, Denmark. The newCampanulacultivar originated from a planned cross made in July 2007 by the inventor. The cross was made in an insect proof house equipped with bumble bees and around 50 different species ofCampanula(all PKM property). The seeds were harvested onCampanula rotundifoliaand the offspring differed significantly from the female parent indicating an interspecific cross. The Inventor selected the newCampanulacultivar from the progeny of the above crossing in September 2008 on the basis of its compact and freely flowering habit.

The female or seed parent is an unnamed proprietary selection ofCampanula rotundifolia. The male or pollen parent is an unnamed proprietary selection ofCampanulasp.

Asexual reproduction of the newCampanulacultivar by terminal cuttings has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PKM01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PKM01’ as a new and distinct cultivar:1. Upright plant habit with stiff, upright stems;2. Bushy and globular plant form;3. Vigorous growth habit, with less need for chemical growth retardation;4. Wide, violet flowers with wide and long petals;5. Linear leaves; and6. No need for vernalization.

Plants of the instant cultivar ‘PKM01’ can be compared to plants of the most similar commercial cultivar, theCampanula portenschlagiana Schult. designated ‘PMKp05’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,188). Plants of the newCampanulasp. ‘PKM01’ differ from plants ofCampanula portenschlagiana Schult. ‘PKMp05’, primarily in the following characteristic:1. Plants of ‘PKM01’ have lighter violet flowers than plants of ‘PKMp05’.2. Plants of ‘PKM01’ have a linear upper leaves whereas plants of ‘PKMp05’ have cordate leaves.3. Plants of ‘PKM01’ have differing upper and lower leaf shapes whereas plants of ‘PKMp05’ have identical upper and lower leaf shapes.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The newCampanula‘PKM01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and fertility level without any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the newCampanula‘PKM01’ as grown under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice where day temperatures in the greenhouse range from 18-22° C. and night temperatures are 16° C. Ambient light levels used while growing plants of ‘PKM01’ are 100 Wm2. Plants of ‘PKM01’ are grown with long day photoperiodic treatment. Propagation and young plants are exposed to 10 hour short photoperiodic treatments. No growth retardants used.