Kalanchoe plant named Legacy

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Legacy, characterized by its vivid red-purple flower color, relatively short, broad leaves, good branch branching, early flowering, very floriferous habit, relatively large total inflorescence, and excellent keeping quality.The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and known by the cultivar name Legacy. Legacy was developed by the inventor through controlled breeding by crossing Mikkelsen Seedling No. 89-307-7 (seed parent) with Mikkelsen Seedling No. 88-537-2 (pollen parent). The new cultivar was selected from the progeny of the stated cross.Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings in Ashtabula, Ohio has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.The following characteristics distinguish the new Kalanchoe from both its parent varieties and other cultivated Kalanchoes of this type known and used in the floriculture industry, including comparison cultivar Fascination, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,889. Color references are to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.1. The flower color of Legacy is red purple (71C to 71D), with the flowers of Fascination being a lighter red purple (67B) in color.2. Legacy has a shorter, broader leaf at 9 to 10 cm long and 6 to 7 cm wide than the leaves of Fascination which are 11 cm long and 6 cm wide.3. Both Legacy and Fascination have good basal branching. However, Fascination may have lateral branches that remain vegetative after a six-week short day period to induce flowering, especially when grown under long days after the short day treatment. All lateral branches on Legacy are reproductive after short day treatment.4. Total inflorescence of Legacy is 20 to 22 cm in diameter while Fascination has a much smaller inflorescence diameter of 14 to 16 cm.5. Leaves tend to be at right angles to the stem on Legacy, while on Fascination the leaves are at 45.degree. angles and tend to hang downwardly thereby making the plant look like it is wilting. The leaves of Legacy protrude straight out from the plant.6. Legacy is 5 to 7 days earlier to bloom under winter growing conditions, compared to Fascination, while both are similar in bloom time under summer growing conditions.7. Legacy is a slightly more compact grower than Fascination, averaging 2 to 4 cm shorter under similar growing conditions.8. Legacy has better keeping quality than Fascination, with flowers keeping up to a week longer on plants of similar flower maturity.9. Because more of the basal lateral branches set flower buds on Legacy, the total number of flowers on a Legacy plant is greater than on a Fascination plant.10. Legacy is very adaptable in production and is an excellent performer for production in 10 and 15 cm pots.

Description

Claims

1. A new and distanct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Legacy, as illustrated and described.