A distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named `Purple Sunspot`, characterized by its dark purple flowers that face upwards; moderate to vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; spreading and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early flowering; very floriferous with numerous flowers per plant; and tolerance to rain, drought and temperature extremes.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia 
plant, botanically known as Petunia axillaris, and hereinafter referred to 
by the cultivar name Purple Sunspot. 
The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by 
the inventor in Emerald, Victoria, Australia. The objective of the 
breeding program was to create new Petunia cultivars having large flowers, 
a spreading plant habit, and desirable flower colors. 
The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of the 
inventor's proprietary Petunia selection No. 492-X as the male or pollen 
parent with the inventor's proprietary Petunia selection No. 592-Y as the 
female or seed parent. 
The cultivar Purple Sunspot was discovered and selected by the inventor as 
a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled 
environment in Emerald, Victoria, Australia. Asexual reproduction of the 
new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Emerald, Victoria, Australia, 
has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and 
reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
The cultivar Purple Sunspot has not been observed under all possible 
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations 
in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, 
any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and 
comparisons describe plants grown in Emerald, Victoria, Australia, under 
commercial production conditions. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
the unique characteristics of `Purple Sunspot`. These characteristics in 
combination distinguish `Purple Sunspot` as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Dark purple flowers that face upwards. 
2. Moderate to vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate. 
3. Spreading and decumbent plant habit. 
4. Freely branching habit. Plants do not require pinching. 
5. Early flowering. 
6. Very floriferous with numerous flowers per plant. 
7. Tolerant to rain, drought and temperature extremes. 
The cultivar Purple Sunspot is most similar in flower color to the cultivar 
Pampas Fire (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,408). The cultivar differs 
from the cultivar Pampas Fire in the following characteristics: 
1. Plants of the cultivar Purple Sunspot are more compact than plants of 
the cultivar Pampas Fire. 
2. Plants of the cultivar Purple Sunspot have longer internodes than plants 
of the cultivar Pampas Fire. 
3. Stems of the cultivar Purple Sunspot contain anthocyanin whereas stems 
of the cultivar Pampas Fire do not show any red coloration. 
4. Leaves of the cultivar Purple Sunspot are smaller than leaves of the 
cultivar Pampas Fire. 
5. Leaves of the cultivar Purple Sunspot are elliptic in shape whereas 
leaves of the cultivar Pampas Fire are ovate in shape. 
6. Flowers are smaller on plants of the cultivar Purple Sunspot than plants 
of the cultivar Pampas Fire. 
7. Plants of the cultivar Purple Sunspot have smaller sepals than plants of 
the cultivar Pampas Fire. 
8. The anther color of plants of the cultivar Purple Sunspot is blue 
whereas the anther color of plants of the cultivar Pampas Fire is purple. 
A detailed comparison of the cultivars Purple Sunspot and Pampas Fire 
appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.