A Portulaca plant particularly distinguished by having a cherry red flower color, flower blooming period from spring to fall and a semi-mounding, upright, and vigorous plant growth habit, is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofPortulacaplant, botanically known asPortulaca oleracea, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKPOR002’. ‘SAKPOR002’ originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa, Japan in 2006 between the femalePortulacaline ‘Mo04-20B-V3’, an unpatented proprietaryPortulacabreeding line having a red flower color and creeping growth habit, and the malePortulacaline ‘BB03-294’, an unpatented proprietaryPortulacabreeding line with a red flower color and bushy growth habit.

In August 2006, the female parent line ‘Mo04-20B-V3’ and male parent line ‘BB03-294’ were crossed and F1seeds were obtained. In May 2007, the F1seed was sown in the greenhouse, cultivated and plant lines were produced with red, cherry red, rose, and yellow flowers having a bushy and vigorous plant habit. The plants were evaluated and plant line ‘K2008-138’ was selected for its cherry red flower color, flower blooming period from spring to fall, and vigorous plant growth habit.

In May 2008, ‘K2008-138’ was vegetatively propagated, cultivated, and evaluated. In August 2008, ‘K2008-138’ was confirmed to be fixed and stable. In May 2009, May 2010, and May 2011, ‘K2008-138’ was vegetatively propagated to reconfirm its stability. ‘K2008-138’ was subsequently named ‘SAKPOR002’ and its unique characteristics were found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.1. Cherry red flower color;2. Flower blooming period from spring to fall; and3. A vigorous plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKPOR002’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on twelve-month-old plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the fall of 2012. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4thedition (2001).Classification:Family.—Portulacaceae.Botanical.—Portulaca oleracea.Common.—Purslane.Designation.—‘SAKPOR002’.Parentage:Female parent.—ProprietaryPortulacaline ‘Mo04-20B-V3’ (unpatented).Male parent.—ProprietaryPortulacaline ‘BB03-294’ (unpatented).Growth:Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 2 weeks.Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0 to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks. The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution:9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.Plant description:Habit and form.—Semi-mounding, vigorous, and upright.Life cycle.—Annual.Height(from soil line to top of foliage).—Approximately 8.0 cm.Spread.—Approximately 35.0 cm.Flowering requirements.—Blooms repeatedly from spring to fall.Stems:General description.—Round, slightly rough with lateral ridges.Stem length.—17.0 cm.Diameter.—0.3 cm.Internode length(average).—1.0 cm.Color.—RHS 182B (Greyed-Red).Pubescence.—Absent.Anthocyanin color.—RHS 182B (Greyed-Red).Branching.—Abundant.Leaves:Arrangement.—Alternate.Shape.—Oblanceolate with cuspidate tip in mature leaves and acute tips in younger leaves near the apex of the stem.Apex.—Acute.Base.—Rounded.Margin.—Entire.Surface appearance(both surfaces).—Dull, soft.Surface texture(both surfaces).—Smooth, no pubescence.Length.—2.5 cm.Width.—1.0 cm.Texture.—Smooth.Thickness.—0.1 cm.Color.—Upper surface: Mature leaves: Closest to RHS 146C (Yellow-Green) with RHS 59B (Red-Purple) at edge. Young leaves: RHS 146C (Yellow-Green). Lower surface: Mature leaves: Closest to RHS 146C (Yellow-Green) with RHS 59B (Red-Purple) at edge. Young leaves: RHS 146C (Yellow-Green).Venation.—Absent.Petiole.—Absent.Fragrance.—Absent.Inflorescence:Inflorescence type.—Solitary, sessile.Flowering habit.—Determinate.Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—1 day.Fragrance.—Absent.Flower bud:Surface appearance and texture.—Shiny, pubescent.Length.—1.0 cm.Diameter.—0.5 cm.Shape.—Lanceolate.Color.—RHS 146C (Yellow-Green) with RHS 59B (Red-Purple).Corolla:Shape.—Five distinct petals, free with an indent at tip of petal.Flower diameter.—3.5 cm.Flower depth.—1.0 cm.Petals.—Shape: Heart-shaped with a square base. Apex: Retuse. Base: Square. Margin: Double lobed, slightly sinuate. Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous. Length: 2.0 cm. Width: 1.0 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 43A (Red). Lower surface: RHS 24B (Orange) with RHS 43C (Red) streaks. Upper Base: RHS 9A (Yellow).Calyx:Arrangement.—Composed of two sepals, free.Sepals.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire, slightly sinuate. Color (both surfaces): Closest to RHS 146D (Yellow-Green). Texture (both surfaces): Smooth. Appearance: Double lobed, slightly sinuate. Length: 0.7 cm. Diameter: 0.6 cm.Reproductive organs: Androecium.Stamen number.—Many.Stamen color.—RHS 7A (Yellow).Stamen form.—Free.Stamen length.—0.6 cm.Filament color.—RHS 7A (Yellow).Pollen color.—RHS 17A (Yellow-Orange).Pollen amount.—Abundant.Ovary diameter.—0.3 cm.Ovary color.—RHS 143C (Yellow-Green).Placental arrangement.—Central.Pistil number.—1 (per inflorescence).Pistil length.—1.0 cm.Stigma color.—RHS 7A (Yellow).Stigma length.—0.2 cm.Style length.—0.4 cm.Style color.—RHS 7A (Yellow).Seed production.—Absent.Disease and insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKPOR002’ is a new and unique variety ofPortulacaowing to its cherry red flower color, flower blooming period from spring to fall and a semi-mounding, upright, and vigorous plant growth habit. ‘SAKPOR002’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by plant growth habit as shown in Table 1 below:

‘SAKPOR002’ is a new and unique variety ofPortulacaowing to its cherry red flower color, flower blooming period from spring to fall and a semi-mounding, upright, and vigorous plant growth habit. ‘SAKPOR002’ is most similar to the commercialPortulacavariety ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’ (patent status unknown); however there are differences as described in Table 2 below.