U.S. patent number PP27,713 [Application Number 14/544,872] was granted by the patent office on 2017-02-28 for loropetalum plant named `irodori`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. The grantee listed for this patent is Yuji Suzuki. Invention is credited to Yuji Suzuki.
United States Patent |
PP27,713 |
Suzuki |
February 28, 2017 |
Loropetalum plant named `IRODORI`
Abstract
A new and distinct Loropetalum cultivar named `IRODORI` is
disclosed, characterized by bright pink, white, green and maroon
variegated foliage, tall upright and spread habit and bright pink
flowers with some flower re-bloom after the initial heavy Spring
bloom. The new variety is a Loropetalum, normally produced as an
outdoor garden or container plant.
Inventors: |
Suzuki; Yuji (Kawaguchi,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Suzuki; Yuji |
Kawaguchi |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc
(Grand Haven, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
56850133 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/544,872 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160262296 P1 |
Sep 8, 2016 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/226 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/226 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Assistant Examiner: Redden; Karen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bright; Cassandra
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plant named `IRODORI`
as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.
Variety denomination: `IRODORI`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding
program conducted by the inventor, Yuji Suzuki, in Kawaguchi City,
Saitama, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to
produce new Loropetalum varieties with better foliage color and
improved flowering for ornamental commercial applications. The
cross resulting in this new variety was made during Apr. 24,
2004.
The seed parent is the, unpatented, commercial variety referred to
as Loropetalum `Kinsai`. The pollen parent is the unpatented,
propriety variety referred to as Loropetalum `3-28`. The new
variety was discovered in a commercial nursery by the inventor in a
group of seedlings resulting from the 2004 crossing, in Kawaguchi
City, Saitama, Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood
cuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in
Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan, in 2009 and has shown that the
unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to
type in 5 successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar `IRODORI` has not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with
variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and
light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are
determined to be the unique characteristics of `IRODORI` These
characteristics in combination distinguish `IRODORI` as a new and
distinct Loropetalum cultivar: 1. Bright and well variegated
foliage with pink, white, slight undertones of green and maroon
colors. 2. Tall, upright and spreading plant, reaching 4 to 6 feet
tall. 3. Stunning bright pink flower that complement the variegated
foliage. 4. Some re-bloom occurs after the initial heavy Spring
flowering.
Plants of the new cultivar `IRODORI` are similar to plants of the
seed parent, Loropetalum `Kinsai` in most horticultural
characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar `IRODORI`
differ in the following; 1. Bright red/pink flowers. The seed
parent flower color is red. 2. Upright and outwardly spreading
growth habit. The seed parent growth habit is only upright. 3.
Foliage shape is broad ovate. The parent foliage shape is ovate. 4.
Brighter foliage variegation of pink, white, green and maroon. The
seed parent foliage color is more subdued and only white, scarlet
and purple.
Plants of the new cultivar `IRODORI` are similar to plants of the
pollen parent, Loropetalum `3-28` in most horticultural
characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar `IRODORI`
differ in the following; 1. Bright red/pink flowers; the pollen
parent flower color is scarlet. 2. Upright and spreading growth
habit; the pollen parent growth habit is only spreading. 3. Back of
leaf color is a lighter shade of green. 4. Brighter foliage
variegation of pink, white, green and maroon; the parent pollen
parent is only variegated with white.
COMMERCIAL COMPARISON
Plants of the new cultivar `IRODORI` are comparable to the
patented, commercial variety Loropetalum `Shang-hi` U.S. Plant Pat.
No. 18,331. The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most
horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety `IRODORI`
differs in the following: 1. Upright and somewhat open, free
branching growth habit. The comparator growth habit is upright and
more densely branched. 2. Bright foliage variegation of pink,
white, green and maroon. The comparator foliage is solid dark
purple. 3. Degree of variegation changes throughout the season
becoming most prominent in late Summer and Fall. The comparator
holds same color all season.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a
typical plant of `IRODORI` grown in a 1 gallon pot. Age of the
plant photographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a rooted
cutting.
FIG. 2 illustrates the foliage, around July 2014.
The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and
although colors may appear different from actual colors due to
light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional
photographic techniques.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
In the following description, color references are made to The
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general
terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following
observations and measurements describe `IRODORI` plants grown in a
greenhouse, in Grand Haven Mich. The growing temperature averaged
from 60.degree. F. to 65.degree. F. during the day and from
40.degree. F. to 50.degree. F. during the night. Growing conditions
are double poly from Fall through Winter and shade cloth through
the Summer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of
typical plant types. Botanical classification: Loropetalum
`IRODORI`.
PROPAGATION
Type of propagation typically used: Cutting. Time to initiate
roots: 18 days at 27.degree. C. Number of days to produce a rooted
liner in summer: 110 days at 27.degree. C. Root description: Medium
to thick, fibrous, free branching and fleshy. New roots are purple
in color, aging to brown.
PLANT
Type of plant: Perennial shrub. Age of plant described:
Approximately 1.5 to 2 years old. Container size of the plant
described: 2 gallon. Growth habit: Mounded upright. Height: 4 to 6
feet. Plant spread: 4 feet. Growth rate: Good. Plant vigor: Good.
Branching characteristics: Horizontally emerging branches,
originating from base of plant. Angle between 0-45.degree.. Length
of primary lateral branches: 41.6 cm. Diameter of lateral branches:
3 cm. Quantity of primary lateral branches: 20. Characteristics of
primary lateral branches: Form.--Round. Diameter.--0.5 cm.
Color.--Young stems: Near RHS Greyed-orange 176A. Older stems: Near
RHS Greyed-orange 165A. Aspect.--Straight. Strength.--Good.
Texture.--Stem pubescence, more prevalent in younger stems.
Internode length: 1.5 cm.
Foliage:
Leaf: Arrangement.--Alternate, Single. Quantity.--Approximately 93
per branch. Average length.--1.5-4.5 cm. Average width.--0.9-3.3
cm. Shape of blade.--Ovate rounded. Apex.--Acute. Base.--Oblique.
Margin.--Entire to partially sinuate. Texture of top
surface.--Slightly rough due to pubescence. Texture of bottom
surface.--Ribbed due to protruding veins and course due to
pubescence. Color.--Young foliage represents Spring coloration.
Mature foliage Summer coloration. Fall color: Upper side: Near RHS
Greyed-Orange 167B with 168A, small amount of 169A and Greyed-Green
197A. Under side: Glaucous, near RHS Greyed-Green 197A, mottled
Greyed-Orange 167B with 168A. Young foliage upper side: Near RHS
Red-purple 75A and Red-purple 71B in young leaves to Orange-white
159C with mottled overlay of Black 202A. Young foliage under side:
Glaucous. Near RHS Red-purple 59A. Mature foliage upper side:
Continued mottling of Near RHS Red-purple 75A, Red-purple 71B and
Orange-white 159C with larger patches of Black 202A, becoming solid
Black 202A with slight undertones of green and red. Mature foliage
under side: Glaucous. Near RHS Greyed-green 191A overlaying
Greyed-purple 186B. Venation.--Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper
side: Midribs and veins are depressed on the upper side. Only
distinct color detection on lighter variegated leaves Near RHS
Greyed-red 182C. Venation color under side: Midribs and veins are
prominent on the underside. Near RHS Greyed-purple 186B.
Petiole.--Length: 0.25 to 0.5 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Color: Younger:
Near RHS Greyed-purple 183B. Older: Near RHS Greyed-red 182B.
Flower:
Arrangement: At terminal end of branch. Inflorescence and flower
type and habit: Perfect flowers, comprised of strap-shaped petals,
occurring in terminal (mainly) and axillary (occasionally) umbels.
Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 6-7. Persistent or
self-cleaning: Strap-shape, self-cleaning. Flowering habit:
Terminal and axial along stem. Flower aspect: Upright and outward.
Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: 14-30. Quantity of flowers
per plant: 70-500 depending on size and maturity of the plant.
Natural flowering season: Spring and some Fall re-bloom. Fragrance:
None. Bud: Shape.--Round. Length.--2 mm. Diameter.--2.5 mm.
Color.--Near RHS Red-purple 59B. Petals: Quantity per flower.--4.
Shape.--Linear, not fused. Margin.--Entire. Length: 2.5-3 cm.
Width: 3-5 mm. Apex.--Slightly retuse and petals are curled at the
tips. Color.--When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A.
Lower surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A. Fully opened: Upper
surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A. Lower surface: Near RHS
Red-purple 71A. Sepals: Quantity per flower.--4.
Appearance.--Slightly pubescent. Arrangement.--Whorl. Shape.--Ovate
and fused, slightly curled outward. Length.--4 mm. Width.--3 mm.
Apex.--Acute. Base.--Fused. Margin.--Entire, smooth. Color.--Upper
Side: Near RHS Red-purple 71B slightly glaucous. Under side: Near
RHS Red-purple 61B.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Stamens: Number.--4. Pistil: Number.--2.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or
pets noted to date. Drought tolerance: Moderate to good drought
tolerance once established. Temperature tolerance: Typical for
Loropetalum, with a maximum low temperature tolerance to USDA zone
7.
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