Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE23403’

Abstract

A new Osteospermum plant particularly distinguished by lavender flower color, with a white pattern under cold stimulation which otherwise is not visible or only slightly visible, with an upright habit and good branching, is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE23403’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE23403’. ‘KLEOE23403’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in summer 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya between the proprietary female Osteospermum variety ‘KLEOE14226’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2013-0357’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were collected and sown in Stuttgart, Germany in January 2016 and the plants were grown for evaluation. An individual plant designated ‘KLEOE23403’ was selected in April to May 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany. In June 2016 ‘KLEOE23403’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative terminal cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLEOE23403’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

• • 1. Lavender flowers, with a white pattern under cold stimulation which otherwise is not visible or only slightly visible;
  • 2. Upright habit; and
  • 3. Good branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows a close-up of the foliage, buds, and mature flower. The photograph is of a 12-week-old plant grown outdoors in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2022. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE23403’. The data which define these characteristics were collected in Stuttgart Germany in May 2024 on plants potted in October 2023. References are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^th edition (2007).

• Classification:
  • • Family.—Asteraceae.
    • Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.
    • Common.—Osteospermum.
    • Designation.—‘KLEOE23403’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—The proprietary female Osteospermum variety ‘KLEOE14226’ (unpatented).
    • Male parent.—The proprietary male Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2013-0357’ (unpatented).
• Plant:
  • • Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated as an annual; not frost resistant.
    • Growth habit.—Upright.
    • Branching habit.—Normal.
    • Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—16.0 cm.
    • Width (including inflorescences).—17.0 cm.
    • Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—10 to 17 weeks.
    • Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 weeks.
    • Root description.—Fine; RHS 155A (white).
• Leaves:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate.
    • Shape.—Obovate.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Acute.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137C.
    • Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137C.
    • Length.—3.5 cm.
    • Width.—1.9 cm.
    • Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Leathery with fine hairs.
    • Petioles.—Absent.
    • Venation pattern.—Absent.
    • Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N144A. Lower surface: RHS 144A.
• Stems:
  • • Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base of the plant).—7.
    • Length.—16.0 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.2 cm.
    • Internode length.—2.2 cm.
    • Color.—RHS 144A.
    • Texture.—Smooth.
    • Anthocyanin.—Absent.
• Buds:
  • • Shape.—Round.
    • Length.—1.2 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.8 cm.
    • Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS 138A.
• Inflorescence:
  • • Type.—Composite, single.
    • Blooming habit.—Upright, with longer flower stems.
    • Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—4.
    • Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 15 days.
    • Fragrance.—Absent.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—6.4 cm.
    • Inflorescence depth.—1.2 cm.
    • Disc diameter.—1.4 cm.
• Disc floret:
  • • Quantity per inflorescence.—Around 50.
    • Shape.—Tubular.
    • Tube color.—Closed: RHS N155A. Mature: RHS N155A.
    • Length.—0.7 cm.
    • Diameter (at apex).—0.1 cm.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Apex color.—RHS 90B.
    • Base.—Acute.
    • Base color.—RHS 145D.
    • Margin.—Entire.
• Ray floret:
  • • Quantity per inflorescence.—21.
    • Shape.—Oblanceolate.
    • Color.—Upper surface: RHS N80A with NN155C pattern, but only when there was a cold stimulation otherwise white pattern is not visible or only slightly. Lower surface: RHS N82B.
    • Length.—3.3 cm.
    • Width.—0.8 cm.
    • Apex.—Obtuse.
    • Base.—Acute.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.
    • Peduncle.—Length: 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture: Smooth with hairs. Color: RHS 143C.
• Phyllaries:
  • • Texture.—Smooth with fine hairs.
    • Color.—RHS 137A.
    • Arrangement.—Single.
    • Observed quantity per plant.—18.
    • Shape.—Lanceolate.
    • Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137B.
    • Length.—1.2 cm.
    • Width.—0.3 cm.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Obtuse.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth with fine hairs. Lower surface: Smooth.
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Androecium.—Location: On the disc floret. Stamens: Quantity: Numerous. Shape: Filamentous. Filament length: 0.4 cm. Filament diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Lanceolate. Color: RHS 79A. Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 13A. Amount: Sparse.
    • Gynoecium.—Location: On the base of the petals (ray floret). Pistils: Number: Numerous. Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 79A. Shape: Filamentous. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 79A. Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.
• Fruit and seed set: None observed.
• Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE23403’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1
Comparison with Parental Lines
Characteristic	‘KLEOE23403’	Female Parent	Male Parent
Flower color	Lavender, with	Pink	Purple
	white pattern
	under cold
	stimulation
	which otherwise
	is not visible or
	only slightly

‘KLEOE23403’ is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety ‘KLEOE14235’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,268). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2
Comparison with Similar Variety
	Characteristic	‘KLEOE23403’	‘KLEOE14235’
	Branching	Better than	Medium
		‘KLEOE14235’
	Earliness	Early	Very early

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated ‘KLEOE23403’ as illustrated and described herein.