Calibrachoa plant named ‘CBRZ0006’

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Calibrachoa Llave & Lex.

Varietal denomination: ‘CBRZ0006’.

The present invention comprises a new Calibrachoa , botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrida , and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘CBRZ0006’.

‘CBRZ0006’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has medium-to large sized, apricot color flowers with a distinct orange-red ‘eye’, medium green foliage, good branching, and a semi-upright, later semi-trailing plant habit. It is day-length neutral with regard to the induction of flowering.

‘CBRZ0006’ originated from a hybridization made in December 2010 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif., USA. The female parent was the unpatented proprietary plant designated ‘(1613A-3/1)-1’, having orange flowers with a red eye, somewhat less floriferous and requiring longer day length for the inductions of flowering than ‘CBRZ0006’.

The male parent of ‘CBRZ0006’ was an unpatented proprietary plant identified as ‘(1611-2/3)-1’ with apricot flowers with a red eye, and requiring a day length of more than 10 hours for the induction of flowering, while ‘CBRZ0006’ is less day-length sensitive.

The resulting seeds were sown in March 2011, and ‘CBRZ0006’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in June 2011 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘CBRZ0006’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in the fall of 2011 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in the spring of 2012, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘CBRZ0006’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘CBRZ0006’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) on Aug. 25, 2014, No. 2014/2073. ‘CBRZ0006’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Calibrachoa as a new and distinct variety.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘CBRZ0006’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawing shows in FIG. 1 . a close-up of the flowers and in FIG. 2 . a whole flowering plant.

The aforementioned photographs were taken outdoors on 14 Jul. 2014 in Andijk, the Netherlands. These plants were about 5-6 months of age.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

Plant:

Form, growth and habit .—Semi-upright stems, compact and mounding, very well branched. Plant height.— 9.5-12 cm; average 10.7 cm. Plant height ( inflorescence included ).—About 11-13 cm. Plant width.— 18-21 cm; average 19.5 cm. Quantity of main branches.— 16-20. Quantity of secondary branches.— 4-6 per basal branch. Time to produce a flowering plant.— 7-8 weeks for a 12 cm pot (from planting of rooted cuttings).

Roots:

Number of days to initiate.— 18-21 days at about 22° C. Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.— 21-24 days at 22° C. Type .—Fibrous. Color .—RHS 158D.

Stem:

Color of stem .—Mainly RHS 146C, small portion shows a little anthocyanin: color RHS 177B. Length of stem .—Approximately 7-11 cm. Diameter.— 0.15-0.2 cm. Length of internodes.— 0.4-1.1 cm. Texture .—Hair of various sizes, partly glandular hair.

Foliage:

Immature leaf, color of upper surface .—RHS 144A. Immature leaf, color of lower surface .—Between RHS 144B. Mature leaf, color of upper surface .—RHS 144A. Mature leaf, color of lower surface .—RHS 144A to RHS 144B. Leaf blade, length.— 2.9-3.5 cm. Leaf, width.— 1.1-1.3 cm. Shape .—Elliptical, narrow. Base shape .—Acuminate. Apex shape .—Obtuse. Margin .—Entire. Texture .—Both surfaces covered with dense, short hair, most distinct along the edge and the veins of the underside. Color of veins, upper surface .—RHS 144A. Color of veins lower surface .—RHS 144B. Petiole color .—RHS 144B. Petiole length.— 0.1-0.3 cm. Diameter of petiole.— 0.2 cm. Texture .—Both surfaces covered with dense, short hair.

Inflorescence:

Type .—Flowers solitary in upper leaf axis and slanting upright or outwards. Quantity of inflorescences per plant .—Approximately 15-20. Lastingness of individual flowers .—About 7-9 days. Fragrance .—None. Duration of flowering .—Continuous flowering throughout the summer.

Pedicel:

Color of pedicel .—RHS 138A. Length of pedicel.— 1.9-2.5 cm. Diameter of pedicel.— 0.1 cm. Texture of pedicel .—Dense hair, partly glandular hair.

Flower:

Immature flowers, corolla upper surface .—RHS N66A base color. Immature flowers, corolla lower surface .—RHS 71D. Mature flowers, color upper surface .—RHS 30D, with a somewhat deeper, red ring, RHS between 45B, in the center around the throat opening. Mature flowers, color lower surface .—Mottled color showing RHS 60C and RHS 50C. Flower horizontal diameter .—Up to 3.7 cm. Flower height ( vertical ).—1.7-2.2 cm. Corolla tube length.— 1.3-1.6 cm. Petal apex shape .—Truncate. Margin .—Entire. Waviness of petals .—Weak to medium. Petal lobation .—Moderate. Corolla texture .—‘Face’ papillose and glabrous; rear side with short hair along the veins. Corolla tube color inside .—RHS 9A. Corolla tube color outside .—RHS 7D.

Bud (just before opening):

Color at apex .—RHS 6D. Length.— 1.9-2.2 cm. Width ( upper end ).—0.5-0.6 cm. Shape .—Oblong.

Calyx:

Number of sepals.— 5. Color of sepals, adaxial or upper surface .—RHS 143B, slightly lighter basally. Color of sepals, abaxial or lower surface .—RHS 143C. Length of sepals.— 1.5-1.8 cm. Width of sepals.— 5-7 mm. Sepal shape .—Lanceolate. Apex shape .—Obtuse to acute. Margins .—Entire. Texture .—Glandular hairs of various sizes.

Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance or susceptibility has not been observed on this hybrid.