Verbena plant named ‘Darkeyena’

#Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

#Varietal denomination: ‘Darkeyena’.

#The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.

#This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

#The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5 cm container. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

#TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Darkeyena’, its parents and a similar cultivar ‘Darkeyena’ ‘X585’ ‘A714’ ‘Wyena’ Flower color Deep blue Purple Blue Burgundy Earliness Mid early Late Early Early Seed set No No Much No

#The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Babylon Purple’. The patented name of this variety is ‘Wyena’ and its U.S. Plant Pat. No. is 12,292. The plant: Classification.—Botanical: Verbena×hybrida. Parentage.—Female parent: A seedling named ‘X585’ is one of our seedlings from our X-generation of plants bred in 1995. Pollen parent: A seedling named ‘A714’ is one of our seedings from our A-generation of plants bred in 1997. Growth habit.—Semi-erect, later spreading, decumbent. Plant height.—14-18 cm. Spreading area of plant.—32-58 cm. Growth rate.—Vigorous. Strength.—Resistant to hot (30° C.-40° C.) and cold (0° C.-10° C.) weather. Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching at every node. Blooming period.—From April until November. The stem: Diameter.—2-2.5 mm. Length.—10-15 cm. Shape.—Tetragonal. Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent. Color of the stem.—141B. Length of internode.—18-34 mm, depending on the light where the plant is propagated. Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent. Length lateral branches.—15-19 cm. The foliage: Phyllotaxis.—Opposite. Shape of blade.—Ovate. Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth. Venation.—Pinnate. Leaf margin.—Incised. Leaf base.—Obtuse. Leaf apex.—Acute. Length.—14-24 mm. Width.—14-20 mm. Depth of incision.—2-4 mm. Number of incisions.—3-6 per leaf. Color.—Upper side: 141B. Lower side: 141C. Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present. Length of leaf stem.—2-5 mm. Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent. Petiole diameter.—2-3 mm. Petiole coloration.—141B. The bud: Peduncle length.—35-60 mm, depending on season. Peduncle diameter.—2-3 mm. Peduncle color.—141C. Bud size.—Diameter: 3 mm. Length: 8-12 mm. Bud shape.—Elongated and ovate. Bud color.—137B. Sepals.—Color (upper side): 137C. Color (lower side): 137C. Form: Upright. Number: 5, fused. Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 2 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. The flower: Flower diameter.—14-22 mm. Flower height.—12-16 mm. Flower tube length.—12-14 mm. Flower throat diameter.—2-3 mm. Inflorescence.—Corymb. Flower-form.—Single, salverform; sessile on terminal corymbs. Petal color.—Upper side: 71C, bleaching to 75B. Lower side: N89A. Eye.—A small (3 mm) whitish Eye (N155A) is present on all petals at their base. Overlapping of petals.—Separate. No. of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed. Petal apex.—Obcordate. Petal base.—Fused. Petal margin.—Entire. Petal surface texture.—Smooth. Size of the petal.—Length: 6-8 mm. Width: 4-6 mm. Inflorescence.—Length: 25-35 mm. Diameter: 25-40 mm. Calyx length.—12-14 mm. Calyx diameter.—3-4 mm. Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent. Color of the calyx.—137C. No. of flowers per inflorescence.—35-50. Fragrance.—A very light pansylike fragrance is present. Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to open in one corymb over a period of 14 days. Lastingness of one flower.—2 to 4 days. Reproductive organs: Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: 1 mm. Anther color: 144A. Pollen amount: No pollen. Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 2.0-2.4 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length: 1.9 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144C.