U.S. patent number PP31,437 [Application Number 16/350,695] was granted by the patent office on 2020-02-11 for yucca plant named `silver anniversary`.
The grantee listed for this patent is Tony Avent. Invention is credited to Tony Avent.
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United States Patent |
PP31,437 |
Avent |
February 11, 2020 |
Yucca plant named `Silver Anniversary`
Abstract
A new cultivar of Yucca plant named `Silver Anniversary` that is
characterized by compact habit, moderate plant vigor, production of
multiple offsets, powder-blue colored foliage which is hardy in
USDA Zone 5b, and a tall inflorescence consisting of burgundy stems
and cream-white flowers, is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Avent; Tony (Raleigh, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Avent; Tony |
Raleigh |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
69410545 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/350,695 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101); A01H 6/12 (20180501); A01H
5/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/12 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/373 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Assistant Examiner: Redden; Karen M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Campbell; Barbara Cochran Freund
& Young LLC
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct variety of Yucca plant named `Silver
Anniversary` as illustrated and described herein.
Description
Genus and species: Yucca filamentosa x Yucca pallida.
Variety denomination: `Silver Anniversary`.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of
Yucca, commonly known as soapwort, which is grown for use as an
ornamental plant for planted containers or for planting in the
landscape. `Silver Anniversary` is known botanically as Yucca
filamentosa x Yucca pallida and will be referred to hereinafter by
the cultivar name `Silver Anniversary`.
`Silver Anniversary` arose from a Yucca breeding program commenced
by the inventor in a nursery in Raleigh, N.C. in 2013. The goals of
the breeding program were to develop novel varieties which grow and
multiply rapidly while maintaining a compact habit, and developing
varieties with striking foliage color and cold-hardiness in zone
7b. `Silver Anniversary` was selected from a population of diverse
seedlings which were raised from seed arising from the
open-pollination of two species of Yucca: the female parent, an
unknown Yucca filamentosa, commonly known as Adam's needle, and the
male parent, an unknown Yucca pallida, commonly known as pale
Yucca. A single seedling, designated `Silver Anniversary`,
exhibited a combination of greatly increased vigor, presumably
arising from the more vigorous species Yucca filamentosa, with the
attractive powder-blue colored foliage of Yucca pallida.
`Silver Anniversary` was first propagated in 2016 at a nursery in
Raleigh, N.C., using the method of division of underground stems.
The inventor has observed that all asexually reproduced plants of
`Silver Anniversary` have remained stable and have reproduced true
to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction via
division of underground stems.
SUMMARY
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent
the distinguishing characteristics of the new Yucca variety named
`Silver Anniversary`. In combination, these traits set `Silver
Anniversary` apart from all other varieties of Yucca known to the
inventor. `Silver Anniversary` has not been tested under all
possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with
variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions,
however, without any variance in genotype: 1. In its first year of
growth, `Silver Anniversary` establishes a single stemless tight
rosette of foliage. 2. In successive years of growth, `Silver
Anniversary` produces multiple offsets of rosetted foliage. 3. The
emerging and juvenile foliage of `Silver Anniversary` exhibits
gentle recurving which straightens as the plant and foliage
matures. 4. The leaves of `Silver Anniversary` are powder-blue in
color. 5. After four months in the ground (after planting a
well-rooted division), `Silver Anniversary` is 30 cm in height and
width. 6. After twelve months in the ground, `Silver Anniversary`
achieves 120 cm in height and 70 cm in width (excluding the height
of the inflorescence). 7. `Silver Anniversary` produces its first
inflorescences after one year of growth. 8. The inflorescence of a
mature plant of `Silver Anniversary` will extend 75 cm to 1 m above
the foliage canopy. 9. The stems of the inflorescence of `Silver
Anniversary` are burgundy in color. 10. The flowers of the
inflorescence of `Silver Anniversary` are bell-shaped and
cream-white in color. 11. `Silver Anniversary` is hardy in USDA
Zones 5b to 10b.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall
appearance of the new Yucca variety named `Silver Anniversary`
showing color as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in
color reproductions of this type. Both drawings were made from
photographs of an established in-ground plant growing at a nursery
in Raleigh, N.C.
FIG. 1 depicts a one-year-old plant of `Silver Anniversary`. No
flowers have been produced in the first growing season.
FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescence of `Silver
Anniversary` which was observed on a three-year-old in-ground
plant.
Photographs were made using conventional techniques and although
flower and foliage color may appear different from actual color due
to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by
conventional photography.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY
The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Yucca
cultivar named `Silver Anniversary`. Data was compiled from plants
grown outdoors in Raleigh, N.C. The observed plants were
3-years-old. All color determinations are in accordance with the
2007 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except
where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are
used. Botanical and plant description: Family.--Asparagaceae.
Genus.--Yucca. Species.--filamentosa x pallida. Common
name.--Soapwort. Use.--Ornamental plant for use in planted
containers or in the landscape. Parentage.--`Silver Anniversary`
arose as a selected seedling from a population of plants raised
from seed resulting from the open-pollination of plants of the two
species Yucca filamentosa and Yucca pallida. Habit.--Compact,
dome-shaped foliage canopy. Vigor.--Moderate overall plant growth
(plant size); vigorous production of offsets. Plant dimensions
(in-ground, excluding inflorescence).--After four months, 30 cm in
height and width. After twelve months, 120 cm in height, 70 cm in
width. After three years, 1.5 m in height, 1 m in width. Plant
hardiness.--5b to 10b. Propagation.--Division of underground stem
or root cuttings. Division of basal shoots in tissue culture. Root
system.--Fine and fibrous. Time to develop roots.--2 months to full
rooting in a quart container. Crop time.--2 months after planting a
rooted division in a quart container; 6 months after planting a
quart container into a 1-gallon container. Disease susceptibility
and resistance.--Susceptible to Yucca Plant Bug, Halticotoma
valida. Special growing considerations.--`Silver Anniversary` is
adaptable but prefers well-drained soil and a full-sun to part-sun
aspect. Drought/heat tolerance.--This variety withstands the hot
and humid conditions of Raleigh, N.C. (zone 7b), and is tolerant of
drought once established. Stem.--None visible above ground; `Silver
Anniversary` is acaulescent. Foliage: Quantity of leaves.--Very
numerous; exceeds 250 on a 3-year-old plant. Leaf
shape.--Oblanceolate. Leaf division.--Simple. Leaf
arrangement.--Spirally arranged. Leaf apex.--Acuminate with apical
spine. Shape of apical spine.--Keel-shaped. Color of apical
spine.--RHS 167A. Length of apical spine.--4.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Leaf
base.--Truncate. Venation pattern.--Parallel; veins barely visible
on either surface. Leaf margins.--Entire; outermost edges appear
white or translucent. Leaf attachment.--Sheathing. Leaf surfaces
(both upper and lower).--Scabrous. Leaf pubescence.--None. Leaf
width (widest point, approximately halfway between base and
apex).--39.0 mm. Leaf length.--Up to 69.0 cm. Leaf color (both
surfaces).--Close color match not found: between RHS 188D and RHS
122D. Inflorescence: Bloom period.--May to June. Inflorescence
diameter.--30.0 cm. Form.--Panicle. Flowers per panicle.--350 to
450. Inflorescence height, from ground level.--1.7 m to 2.0 m; 60.0
cm to 70.0 cm for inflorescence only. Flower diameter.--1.2 cm to
1.6 cm. Stem.--Scape, borne above foliage and extending to 111 cm
to 134 cm height above foliage. Stem length.--18 cm to 22 cm. Stem
diameter.--3 cm to 4 cm. Stem color.--Emerges light green, becomes
(or ages to) RHS 143C and RHS 144A. Flowers:
Arrangement.--Alternate and composed of 6 tepals.
Type.--Campanulate. Tepal height or length.--4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.
Tepal width.--1.6 cm to 2 cm. Tepal shape.--Ovate. Tepal
apex.--Acuminate. Tepal color.--Creamy white (RHS 155A). Tepal
texture.--Leathery. Petal dimensions, color, texture if
different.--No difference, all tepals. Fragrance.--Present, musty.
Lastingness of individual flower.--1 to 4 days. Lastingness of
inflorescence.--20 to 30 days, with stalk persisting until next
season. Pedicel.--Absent; flowers are sessile. Reproductive organs:
Stamens.--6 in number; 1.6 mm to 1.8 mm in length; color: white.
Anthers.--Small, globular; color: brown/yellow. Pistils.--3.
Stigma.--White. Pollen quantity.--Slight; color: Creamy white.
Fruit or capsules.--Dry dehiscent capsule. Seed.--Papery,
black.
COMPARISON TO PARENTAL LINES
`Silver Anniversary` may be compared with its parents as follows.
Whereas the female parent Yucca filamentosa has green foliage, the
foliage of `Silver Anniversary` is powder blue in color. Whereas
the male parent Yucca pallida and `Silver Anniversary` both bear
powder blue foliage, plants of `Silver Anniversary` exhibit greatly
increased vigor.
The variety which the inventor considers to most closely resemble
`Silver Anniversary` is `TUSZYUC001` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,025)
and is distinguished from the commercial comparison in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison with Similar Variety Trait
`Silver Anniversary` `TUSZYUC001` Plant height and 120 cm and 70.0
cm 35 cm and 35 cm width (maturity)
* * * * *