U.S. patent number PP30,883 [Application Number 15/732,484] was granted by the patent office on 2019-09-17 for loropetalum plant named `suzuki`.
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 |
PP30,883 |
Suzuki |
September 17, 2019 |
Loropetalum plant named `SUZUKI`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plant named `SUZUKI`
is disclosed, characterized by white flowers with a very sight pink
flush, and strong heat tolerance and resistance to color change in
extreme temperatures. Plant habit is very dense and full growing
with very vibrant burgundy foliage. 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: |
66532680 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/732,484 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190159393 P1 |
May 23, 2019 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/226 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101); A01H 6/00 (20180501) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/00 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/226 |
Primary Examiner: Robinson; Keith O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bright; Cassandra
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plant named `SUZUKI`
as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.
Variety denomination: `SUZUKI`.
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 new colors and forms. The
open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during
2005.
The seed parent is an unnamed, unpatented, Loropetalum chinense.
The pollen parent is unidentified. The new variety was selected in
2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the
2005 open pollination, in a nursery in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,
Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood
terminal cuttings. This was first performed at a nursery in
Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan, in June 2013 and has shown that the
unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to
type in 4 successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar `SUZUKI` 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 `SUZUKI`. These
characteristics in combination distinguish `SUZUKI` as a new and
distinct Loropetalum cultivar: 1. Spring foliage color variegation.
2. White flowers with a very slight pink flush. 3. Compact and
cascading plant habit.
PARENT COMPARISON
Plants of the new cultivar `SUZUKI` are comparable to the seed
parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, the new
variety `SUZUKI` differs in the following: 1. The new variety
produces variegated foliage of pink, green and white, the seed
parent has solid colored foliage.
COMMERCIAL COMPARISON
Plants of the new cultivar `SUZUKI` 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 `SUZUKI`
differs in the following: 1. The new variety produces variegated
foliage of pink, green and white, this comparator produces solid
dark purple foliage. 2. The new variety produces white flowers,
very lightly flushed pink. This comparator produces pink
flowers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color an
overhead view of a typical plant of `SUZUKI` grown in a 2 gallon
pot.
FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage.
FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the flowers and foliage. Age
of the plant photographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a
rooted cutting.
The photograph was 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 2015 except where general
terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following
observations and measurements describe `SUZUKI` plants grown in a
poly greenhouse, in Grand Haven, Mich. The growing temperature
averaged from 18-27.degree. C. during the day and from 5-10.degree.
C. during the night. The poly was present from Fall through Winter,
then removed in the Spring. Shade cloth was used through the
Summer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of
typical plant types. Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense
`SUZUKI`.
PROPAGATION
Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative terminal 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: Thin to thick, fibrous, free branching and fleshy. New
roots are purple in color, aging to brown. Not accurately measured
with the R.H.S. chart.
PLANT
Type of plant: Perennial shrub. Age of plant described: 2 to 3
years old. Container size of the plant described: 3 gallon. Growth
habit: Semi-upright, mounded, cascading lower branches. Height: 23
cm. Plant spread: 76 cm. Growth rate: Good. Plant vigor: Good.
Branching characteristics: Horizontal Branches originating from
base. Characteristics of primary lateral branches: Length.--37 cm.
Quantity.--20. Diameter.--4.5 cm. Stem color.--Greyed-brown 199B.
Aspect.--0-90, mostly horizontal branches. Strength.--Good.
Texture.--Glabrous. Internode length: 1.5-2 cm. Stem pubescence:
No.
FOLIAGE
Leaf: Arrangement.--Alternate, single. Average length.--3 cm.
Average width.--2.75 cm. Shape of blade.--Elliptic. Apex.--Acute.
Base.--Obtuse. Margin.--Entire to partially sinuate. Texture of top
surface.--Slightly rough. Texture of bottom surface.--Slightly
rough. Color.--Young foliage upper side: Spring Variegation:
Red-Purple N74D with spots of Violet-Blue N92A and Greyed-Purple
184C. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Purple N187A. Young foliage under side:
Spring variegation: Red purple 73C with spots of Purple group N77A.
Summer/Fall: Greyed-Green 191A. Mature foliage upper side: Spring
variegation: Some are Green 139A, some Brown 200A with spots of Red
purple 65A and White group NN155A. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Purple
N187A. Mature foliage under side: Spring variegation: Yellow Green
144A, some have spots of 186C. Summer/Fall: Greyed-Green 191A.
Venation.--Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Very
depressed, color indistinguishable from foliage. Venation color
under side: Yellow green 154B. Petiole.--Length: 3 mm. Diameter: 1
mm. Color: Greyed-green 195B.
FLOWER
Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Umbel. Quantity of flowers
per inflorescence: 3-4. Flower type: Strap-shaped. Flower aspect:
Upwards and outwards. Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: 15-20.
Quantity of flowers per plant: Around 100. Natural flowering
season: Spring-Summer. Persistence: Self-Cleaning. Fragrance: None.
Bud: Shape.--Orbicular. Length.--4 mm. Diameter.--4 mm.
Color.--Greyed-Green 195B with some faint Greyed-Red 181D. Petals:
Quantity per flower.--4. Shape.--Linear. Arrangement.--Irregular
whorl. Margin.--Entire. Texture.--Smooth, silky all surfaces.
Length.--1.75 mm. Width.--3 mm. Tip.--Slightly retuse and petals
are curled at the tips. Color.--When opening: Upper surface:
Green-white 157C. Lower surface: Green-white 157C. Fully opened:
Upper surface: White N155B lightly flushed Red 56C. Lower surface:
White N155B lightly flushed Red 56C. Sepals: Quantity per
flower.--4. Appearance.--Slightly pubescent. Texture.--Slightly
pubescent all surfaces. Arrangement.--Whorl. Shape.--Ovate and
fused, slightly curled outward. Length.--4 mm. Width.--3 mm.
Tip.--Entire (smooth). Base.--Acute, slightly reflexed.
Margin.--Fused. Color.--Mature upper side: Greyed-Green 195B.
Mature under side: Greyed-Green 195B. Peduncle: Length.--Average 2
to 5 cm. Diameter.--3 mm. Texture.--Slightly pubescent.
Color.--Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Orientation.--Approximately 15
to 35 degrees angle of emergence, aspect straight.
Strength.--Strong and flexible.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Stamens: Number.--4. Filament length.--Average 1 mm. Filament
color.--Near RHS White 155C. Anthers.--Shape: Linear. Length: Less
than 1 mm. Color: Near RHS White 155C. Pollen: Amount: Scant.
Color: Near RHS White 155B. Pistil: Number.--2.
Length.--Approximately 1 mm. Style.--Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:
Near RHS White 155C. Stigma.--Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS White
155C. Ovary: Less than 1 mm, colored near Yellow-Green 150D.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Lowest temperature tolerance: 5 to 10.degree. F. Fruits and seeds:
Not observed to date. Disease/pest resistance: No unusual
susceptibility or resistance to diseases or pests noted to
date.
* * * * *