Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP07360’

Genus and species: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘KEVP07360’.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena , botanically known as Verbena hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘KLEVP07360’. ‘KLEVP07360’ was discovered as a seedling resulting from a cross conducted in fall 2004 in New South Wales, Cobbitty, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena parent, ‘00.801.2’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Verbena parent, ‘00.206.10’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was created in fall 2004 in New South Wales, Cobbitty, Australia and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany over six generations. ‘KLEVP07360’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal commercial practices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. A brilliant pink flower color; 2. A good branching habit; 3. Good drought tolerance; and 4. Good resistance to powdery mildew.

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a plant about 4-months old and grown from rooted cuttings in an 18-cm pot under greenhouse (glasshouse) in Stuttgart, Germany under natural light.

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP07360’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 4-month old plants in 18-cm pots grown in a glass covered greenhouse. The plants were pinched once approximately two weeks after potting. The color readings were determined under natural light. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

Classification:

Family. —Verbenaceae. Genus and species.—Verbena hybrid. Common name. — Verbena .

Parentage:

Female parent. —The proprietary female Verbena plant, ‘00.801.2’(unpatented), having apricot flowers. Male parent. —The proprietary Verbena plant, ‘00.206.10’ (unpatented), having burgundy flowers.

Plant:

Form. —Bedding plant with a trailing habit. Growth and branching habit. —Basket type, good branching. Height ( from top of soil ).—5.0 cm. Width ( horizontal plant diameter ).—35.0 cm. Time to produce a finished - flowering plant. —13 weeks (from sticking of unrooted cuttings). Time to initiate and develop roots. —3 weeks. Drought tolerance. —Good tolerance to drought. Root description. —Normal shape and texture.

Stems:

Number of branches per plant. —More than 10. Length. —Approximately 15.0 cm. Diameter ( measured from the midpoint ) in cm. —17.0 cm. Internode length. —Approximately 2.5 cm. Color. —RHS 140C. Anthocyanin. —Present. Color: RHS 140C. Texture. —Pubescent. Shape. —Round.

Leaves:

Arrangement. —Opposite. Immature leaf. —Color (both surfaces): RHS 135C. Mature leaf. —Color: Upper surface: RHS 135B. Lower surface: RHS 135D. Length. —3.5 cm. Width. —2.0 cm. Shape. —Ovate to deltoid. Apex. —Cuspidate. Base. —Attenuate. Margin. —Crenate. Texture ( both surfaces ).—Smooth. Venation ( both surfaces ).—Pinnate. Venation color ( both surfaces ).—RHS 135B. Petioles. —Length: Less than 0.5 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.2 cm. Color RHS 140C. Texture: Pubescent.

Flower buds:

Shape. —Tall, cylindrical. Length. —Less than 1.2 cm. Diameter. —Less than 0.2 cm. Color ( at tight bud ).—RHS 140C.

Inflorescence:

Blooming habit ( flowering season ).—Spring to fall (April to December) Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant. —Approximately 3 weeks, moderate. Fragrance. —Absent. Inflorescence type. —Fan shape, simple corymb. Length of inflorescence. —2.0 cm. Diameter of inflorescence. —2.0 cm. Number of florets per inflorescence. —20 to 30. Peduncle. —Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 140C. Texture: Pubescent.

Florets:

Form. —Radial. Length. —Approximately 0.7 cm. Diameter. —Approximately. 1.5 cm. Color ( both the immature and mature ).—Upper surface: RHS 74B. Lower surface: RHS 74C. Corolla tube length. —0.5 cm. Corolla tube color. —RHS 70D. Petals. —Length of lobe: Less than 0.8 cm. Diameter of lobe: Less than 0.1 cm. Lobe shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture (both surfaces): Smooth. Pedicels. —Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 70D. Texture: Smooth.

Sepals:

Shape. —Cylinder. Length. —1.0 cm. Diameter.— 0.2 cm. Color. —RHS 135C. Apex. —Cuspidate. Base. —Obtuse. Margin. —Crenate. Texture ( both surfaces ).—Satiny.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens. —Quantity: 4. Color: Pale green. Filament length: Less than 0.1 cm. Filament diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Anther. —Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Pollen. —Too small to determine characteristics. Pistils. —Number: 1. Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Stigma: Color: Pale green. Shape: Round. Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Style: Color: Crème white. Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Shape: Ovate.

Fruit and Seed Set: None observed.

Disease and Insect Resistance: Good powdery mildew resistances.

‘KLEVP07360’ differs from the female parent, the proprietary Verbena ‘00.801.2’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEVP07360’ has pink flowers with a small eye, while ‘00.801.2’ has apricot-colored flowers.

‘KLEVP07360’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary Verbena ‘00.206.10’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEVP07360’ has pink flowers with a small eye, while ‘00.206.10’ has burgundy flowers.

‘KLEVP07360’ differs from the commercial comparison variety ‘KLEVE04334’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,929) in that ‘KLEVP07360’ has pink flowers with a small eye, while ‘KLEVE04334’ has more purple-red colored flowers.