A Calibrachoa plant particularly distinguished by having a pink flower color and a compact plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species:Calibrachoaspp.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofCalibrachoaplant, botanically known asCalibrachoaspp., and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKCAL104’. ‘SAKCAL104’ originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa, Japan in 2006 between the femaleCalibrachoaline ‘6dw-54B’, an unpatented proprietary hybridCalibrachoabreeding line having a rosy red flower color and compact growth habit and the male Calibrachoa line ‘5Bdw-70A-1C’, an unpatented proprietary hybridCalibrachoabreeding line with a white flower color and compact growth habit.

In November 2006, the female parent line ‘6dw-54B’ and the male parent line ‘5Bdw-70A-1C’ were crossed and 150 seeds were obtained. In February 2007, the F1seed were sown in a greenhouse, cultivated, and plant lines were produced with flower colors of blue, cream, and pink having a compact growth habit. In May 2007, a single plant was selected within the F1plants that had a pink flower color and a compact growth habit and designated ‘K2008-121’.

In July 2007, ‘K2008-121’ was vegetatively propagated, cultivated, and evaluated in Salinas, Calif. In October 2007, ‘K2008-121’ was confirmed to be fixed and stable. ‘K2008-121’ was further propagated and cultivated in February 2008 to reconfirm the line's stability. ‘K2008-121’ was subsequently designated ‘SAKCAL104’ and found to have its unique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual vegetative propagation via vegetative cuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.1. Pink flower color; and2. A compact plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKCAL104’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on four-month-old plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer 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.—Solanaceae.Botanical.—Calibrachoaspp.Common.—Calibrachoa.Designation.—‘SAKCAL104’.Parentage:Female parent.—Proprietary hybridCalibrachoaline ‘6dw-54B’ (unpatented).Male parent.—Proprietary hybridCalibrachoaline ‘5Bdw-70A-1C’ (unpatented).Growth:Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 6 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.—Compact and branching.Life cycle.—Tender perennial.Height(from soil line to top of foliage).—8.0 cm.Spread.—35.0 cm.Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is greater than 12 hours and temperature is above 13° C.Temperature tolerances.—Excellent resistance to rain, heat, and drought. Plants will not tolerate temperatures below 10° C.Stems:General description.—Circular in cross-section; dull in appearance.Stem length.—16.0 cm.Diameter.—0.15 cm.Internode length(average).—1.0 cm.Color.—RHS 143C (Green).Pubescence.—Heavy; pubescence is RHS N155A (White).Anthocyanin color.—Absent.Leaves:Arrangement.—Alternate.Shape.—Elliptic.Apex.—Obtuse.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Entire.Variegation.—Absent.Surface appearance(both surfaces).—Dull.Surface pubescence(both surfaces).—Slightly pubescent; pubescence is RHS N155A (White).Length.—2.8 cm.Width.—1.8 cm.Color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A (Yellow-Green). Lower surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-Green).Venation.—Pinnate.Petiole.—Absent; decurrent leaf attachment.Fragrance.—Absent.Inflorescence:Inflorescence type.—Solitary.Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.Time to bloom from propagation.—10 weeks.Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—5 days.Fragrance.—Absent.Flower bud:Surface texture.—Pubescent.Length.—2.2 cm.Diameter.—0.5 cm.Shape.—Ovate.Color.—RHS N78B (Purple) with RHS N79A (Purple) veins.Peduncle:Length.—1.1 cm.Diameter.—0.1 cm.Color.—RHS 144C (Yellow-Green).Surface appearance and texture.—Dull with moderate pubescence; pubescence color is RHS N155A (White).Corolla:Shape.—Composed of five, fused petals to create a funnel-shaped flower with five fissures and a shallow, yet prominent, indentation of the petal tip at the midvein.Flower type.—Single.Flower diameter.—3.0 cm.Flower depth.—1.0 cm.Petals.—Shape: Bilabiate. Apex: Truncate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous. Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 1.0 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS N74A (Red-Purple). Lower surface: RHS N74C (Red-Purple) with N77C (Purple) midvein.Corolla tube.—Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Color: Inner surface: RHS 7A (Yellow) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins. Outer surface: RHS 7D (Yellow) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins.Calyx:Arrangement.—Composed of 5 sepals, free.Sepals.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Color (both surfaces): RHS 143C (Green). Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.Reproductive organs:Stamen number.—5.Stamen color.—RHS 154D (Yellow-Green).Stamen form.—Free.Filament length.—Pollen color.—RHS 11A (Yellow).Pollen amount.—Abundant.Ovary.—Superior.Placental arrangement.—Central.Pistil number.—1 (per inflorescence).Pistil length.—0.7 cm.Stigma color.—RHS 11A (Yellow).Style length.—0.7 cm.Style color.—RHS 154D (Yellow-Green).Seed production.—Absent.Disease and insect resistance: Plants are susceptible toBotrytis, powdery mildew, various stem and root rots, and certain viruses, such as Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spotted Virus. Plants can be infested with aphids, leafminers, whitefly, and variousLepidoptera.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKCAL104’ is a new and unique variety ofCalibrachoaowing to its pink flower color, and compact plant growth habit. ‘SAKCAL104’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color as shown in Table 1 below:

‘SAKCAL104’ is a new and unique variety ofCalibrachoaowing to its pink flower color and a compact plant growth habit. ‘SAKCAL104’ is most similar to the commercialCalibrachoavariety ‘USCALI11’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968), commercially known as SUPERBELLS® ‘Pink’; however there are differences as described in Table 2 below.