U.S. patent number PP27,751 [Application Number 14/544,871] was granted by the patent office on 2017-03-07 for loropetalum plant named `hakuou`.
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 |
PP27,751 |
Suzuki |
March 7, 2017 |
Loropetalum plant named `HAKUOU`
Abstract
A new and distinct Loropetalum cultivar named `HAKUOU` is
disclosed, characterized by dark green foliage and bright white
re-blooming flowers. Plant form is dwarf, rounded, and dense. 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: |
56850247 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/544,871 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160262295 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 `HAKUOU`
as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.
Variety denomination: `HAKUOU`.
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. 20,
2005.
The seed parent is the, unpatented, propriety variety referred to
as Loropetalum `5-7`. The pollen parent is the unpatented,
propriety variety referred to as Loropetalum `5-64`. The new
variety was discovered in a commercial nursery by the inventor in a
group of seedlings resulting from the 2005 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 2011 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 `HAKUOU` 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 `HAKUOU` These
characteristics in combination distinguish `HAKUOU` as a new and
distinct Loropetalum cultivar: 1. Attractive dark green foliage
with lighter green new growth. 2. Very attractive dense rounded
habit. 3. Heavy re-blooming after initial Spring bloom. 4. Bright
white flowers. 5. Shapely dwarf and dense habit (1-3' tall).
Plants of the new cultivar `HAKUOU` are similar to plants of the
seed parent, Loropetalum `5-7` in most horticultural
characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar `HAKUOU`
differs in the following; 1. Larger flowers. 2. Ovate foliage. The
parent's foliage is more broad ovate. 3. Mounding growth habit. The
parent's growth habit is spreading. 4. Dark green foliage, holds
color well. The parent's foliage is dark green but can lighten. 5.
Strong re-blooming. The parent variety is slightly re-blooming.
Plants of the new cultivar `HAKUOU` are similar to plants of the
pollen parent, Loropetalum `5-64` in most horticultural
characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar `HAKUOU`
differs in the following; 1. Larger flowers. 2. Mounding growth
habit. The pollen parent growth habit is spreading. 3. Dark green
foliage, holds color well. The parent's foliage is dark green but
can lighten. 4. Strong re-blooming. The parent's is slightly
re-blooming.
COMMERCIAL COMPARISON
Plants of the new cultivar `HAKUOU` are comparable to the patented,
commercial variety Loropetalum `Shang-white` U.S. Plant Pat. No.
21,738. The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most
horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety `HAKUOU`
differs in the following: 1. Shorter habit, 1-3 feet tall. The
comparator is 3-4 feet tall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a
typical plant of `HAKUOU` 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 a close up of the flowers.
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 `HAKUOU` plants grown in a
greenhouse, in Grand Haven Mich. The growing temperature averaged
from 60-65.degree. F. during the day and from 40-50.degree. F.
during the night. Growing conditions are double poly from Fall
through Winter heated to 35.degree. F. The poly was removed in the
Spring. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of
typical plant types. Botanical classification: Loropetalum
`HAKUOU`.
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. Roots are tan to
white in color.
PLANT
Type of plant: Perennial shrub. Age of plant described:
Approximately 2 years old. Container size of the plant described: 2
gallon. Appropriate containers sizes: 1, 2 and 3 gallon nursery
containers. Growth habit: Rounded, mounded. Height: 12-24 inches.
Plant spread: 36 inches. Growth rate: Good. Plant vigor: Good.
Branching characteristics: Lateral, some basal branching. Pinching
required: Yes. Characteristics of primary lateral branches:
Length.--20 cm. Shape.--Round. Quantity.--14 (in 1 gallon
container). Diameter.--2.5 mm. Color.--Young stems: Near RHS
Yellow-green 146B. Older stems: Near RHS Greyed-brown 199A. Angle
from center.--0-15.degree.. Aspect.--Straight. Strength.--Good.
Internode length: 1.5 cm. Texture: Stem pubescence; more prevalent
in younger stems.
FOLIAGE
Leaf: Arrangement.--Alternate, Single. Quantity.--Approximately 25
per branch. Average length.--2.75-5.5 cm. Average width.--1.5-4.0
cm. Shape of blade.--Ovate, rounded. Tip.--Acute. Base.--Oblique.
Margin.--Entire. Texture of top surface.--Slightly rough due to
sparse pubescence. Texture of bottom surface.--Ribbed due to
protruding veins and coarse due to moderate pubescence.
Color.--Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-green 146A with
occasional overtones of Greyed-orange 164A. Young foliage under
side: Glaucous. Near RHS Yellow-green 148A. Mature foliage upper
side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage under side: Glaucous.
Near RHS Yellow-green 147A. Venation.--Type: Pinnate. Venation
color upper side: Midribs and veins are depressed on the upper
side. Color does not differ from the leaf color. Venation color
under side: Midribs and veins are prominent on the underside. Near
RHS Yellow-green 145A. Petiole.--Length: 0.25 to 0.6 cm. Diameter:
1 mm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-green 146B. Durability of foliage to
stresses.--Good.
FLOWER
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: 3-7.
Flower type: Strap-shape, self-cleaning. Flowering habit:
Re-blooming. Flower aspect: Upright and outward. Quantity of
flowers per lateral stem: 15-25. Quantity of flowers per plant: 50
to 500, depending on maturity of plant. Natural flowering season:
Spring to Fall. Fragrance: None. Bud: Shape.--Obovate. Length.--4
mm. Diameter.--3 mm. Color.--Near RHS Yellow-green 145A. Petals:
Quantity per flower.--4. Shape.--Linear. Margin.--Entire.
Texture.--Smooth, silky. Appearance.--Strap-shaped, un-fused.
Length.--2.35 cm. Width.--2 mm. Tip.--Truncate. Color.--When
opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155C. Lower surface: Near
RHS White 155C. Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155C.
Lower surface: Near RHS White 155C. Petal color fading to: Near RHS
Greyed-yellow 161B (only on tips). Sepals: Quantity per flower.--4.
Appearance.--Light green. Arrangement.--Whorl. Shape.--Ovate and
fused, slightly curled outward. Length.--4 mm. Width.--3 mm.
Tip.--Slightly reflexed. Base.--Fused. Margin.--Entire, smooth.
Color.--Immature upper and lower side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145C.
Mature upper and lower side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145C. Calyx:
Length.--0.2 cm. Diameter.--0.2 cm.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Stamens: Number.--4. Pistil: Number.--2.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Lowest temperature tolerant to: 5 to 10.degree. F. Disease/pest
resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or pests noted to
date. Fruits and seeds: Rarely observed. If produced, capsule size
is approximately 1 cm long by 6 mm wide. Immature capsule colored
near Yellow-Green 144A. Mature capsule colored Greyed-Brown 199B
and N200B. Very few seeds observed within capsule. Drought
tolerance: Moderate to good drought tolerance once established.
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