Verbena plant named ‘Dovewihop’

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Dovewihop’, characterized by its compact, semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; and red-colored flowers that become light red purple and white with development; flowers held above and beyond the foliar plane in mounded umbels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofVerbenaplant, botanically known asVerbenaXhybridaand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dovewihop’.

The newVerbenaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely-branchingVerbenaplants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The newVerbenaplant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2015 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection ofVerbenaXhybridaidentified as code number VV14-007927-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofVerbenaXhybridaidentified as code number VV14-007927-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newVerbenaplant 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 Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the newVerbenaplant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this newVerbenaplant 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 ‘Dovewihop’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dovewihop’ as a new and distinctVerbenaplant:1. Compact, semi-trailing and mounding plant habit.2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.3. Freely branching habit.4. Early and freely flowering habit.5. Red-colored flowers that become light red purple and white with development; flowers held above and beyond the foliar plane in mounded umbels.

Plants of the newVerbenadiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newVerbenaare more compact than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newVerbenahave smaller flowers than plants of the female parent selection.3. Plants of the newVerbenaand the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the newVerbenadiffer primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newVerbenaare more compact than plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newVerbenaflower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.3. Plants of the newVerbenahave smaller flowers than plants of the male parent selection.4. Plants of the newVerbenaand the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have red-colored fully developed flowers.

Plants of the newVerbenacan be compared to plants of theVerbenaXhybrida‘Flagdena’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,438. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newVerbenadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Flagdena’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newVerbenaare more compact than plants of ‘Flagdena’.2. Plants of the newVerbenaflower earlier than plants of ‘Flagdena’.3. Plants of the newVerbenaand ‘Flagdena’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Flagdena’ have red purple and light red purple-colored flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 22-cm containers during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercialVerbenaproduction. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were ten weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the 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:VerbenaXhybrida‘Dovewihop’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofVerbenaXhybridaidentified as code number VV14-007927-001, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofVerbenaXhybridaidentified as code number VV14-007927-002, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures about 20° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures about 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.Plant description:Plant habit.—Compact, semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about five primary lateral branches each with about four to six secondary lateral branches; pinching enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 13.5 cm.Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 15 cm.Plant diameter.—About 55 cm.Lateral branch description:Length.—About 20 cm.Diameter.—About 3 mm.Internode length.—About 4 cm.Strength.—Strong.Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.Color, developing.—Close to 144C; at the internodes, close to 144A.Color, developed.—Close to 144A; at the internodes, close to 144A.Leaf description:Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.Length.—About 5 cm.Width.—About 3 cm.Shape.—Lanceolate.Apex.—Acute.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Lobed.Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, coarse; semi-glossy.Texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, coarse; matte.Venation pattern.—Pinnate.Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 146A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 139C.Flower description:Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in hemispherical terminal umbels; umbels dense and mounding; numerous umbels per plant; flowers face upward or outwardly depending on position in the umbel; freely flowering habit with about 12 to 16 flowers per inflorescence and about 600 to 700 flowers developing per plant.Fragrance.—None detected.Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from the spring through the fall in Northern Europe; plants begin flowering about eight weeks after planting.Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on the plant; flowers persistent.Inflorescence height.—About 2.7 cm.Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.6 cm.Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Oval to tubular. Texture and luster: Rippled; matte. Color: Close to 62B.Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform, five-parted fused corolla. Diameter: About 2.2 cm. Depth: About 2.5 cm. Throat diameter: About 2.1 mm. Tube length: About 2.1 cm. Tube diameter: About 1.5 mm.Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals. Petal lobe length: About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 46A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Distally, close to 62B; proximally close to N155C. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Distally, close to 44A and 63B; proximally, close to NN155B; venation, similar to lamina; color does not change with development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Distally, close to 65B; proximally, close to N155B; venation, similar to lamina; color does not change development. Throat: Close to 145C; venation, close to 145C. Tube: Close to 145C; venation, close to 145C.Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five fused sepals. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Sepal length: About 1.3 cm. Sepal width: About 1.5 mm. Sepal shape: Ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent, coarse; semi-glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent, coarse; matte. Sepal color, when developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C and 144D. Sepal color, fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C and 144D.Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144A.Pedicels.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144B.Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: About four per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Filament length: About 0.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to N144B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 2D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style color: Close to 142A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted; fimbriate. Stigma color: Close to 147C. Ovary color: Close to 144A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 400 during the flowering season. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About 4.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 199B.Temperature tolerance: Plants of the newVerbenahave been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 11° C. to about 25° C.Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the newVerbenahave not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toVerbenaplants to date.