<i>Acer </i>plant named ‘SONKOOT6’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Acer palmatum tree named ‘SONKOOT6’ that is characterized by its weeping plant habit, its young leaves that are purple-brown in color, its mature leaves that are dark green in color , and its foliage that is wine red in color in the fall.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Acer palmatum tree named ‘SONKOOT6’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar as grown in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands.

(2) FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the foliage and plant habit of ‘SONKOOT6’ as a tree 5-years-in-age as grown outdoors.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the young foliage of ‘SONKOOT6’ as a tree 5-years-in-age as grown outdoors.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the mature leaves of ‘SONKOOT6’ as a tree 13-months-in-age as grown in a conventional greenhouse.

(5) The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Acer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of 12-month-old trees of the new cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in 21-cm containers in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Plant type.—Deciduous shrub. Plant habit.—Broadly weeping. Height and spread.—Grafted onto standard 100 cm in height; an average of 130 cm in height and 100 cm in width. Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6. Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to diseases or pest has been observed. Root description.—Fibrous, freely branched. Propagation.—Grafting. Root development.—An average of 6 weeks needed for graft to connect to rootstock, 15 months to produce a young grafted plant. Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. Branch description: Stem shape.—Round. Stem size.—An average of 25.3 cm in length, 2.5 mm in diameter. Stem surface.—Slightly glossy. Stem color.—Young; 184B, lower side 181B, mature; 176A, lower side a blend of 152D and 199B, internodes 152D and 199B, older stems; N199A. Stem strength.—Strong. Stem aspect.—An average angle of 60° to vertical. Internode length.—An average of 4.7 cm. Branching.—Well-branched, 1 main stem and 5 secondary branches per main branch. Foliage description: Leaf shape.—Palmately lobed, reniform to orbicular in outline. Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf base.—Hastate. Leaf apex.—Narrow acute. Leaf fragrance.—None. Leaf venation.—Palmate, young upper surface 179A, young lower surface 180A, mature upper and lower surface 146D in color. Leaf quantity.—An average of 12 (6 pairs) per lateral branch. Leaf margins.—Biserrate, 5 lobes, occasionally 7, sinus depth deep, sinus orientation is convergent. Leaf arrangement.—Opposite. Leaf aspect.—Flat, leaves in an average angle of 70° to lateral branch. Leaf attachment.—Petiolate. Leaf surface.—Texture of both surfaces glabrous and smooth, upper surface very slightly glossy, lower surface slightly glossy, main veins of young leaves sparsely covered with a thin pubescence on both surfaces; an average of 0.4 mm in length, too small to measure. Leaf size.—Average of 7.8 cm in length and 8.5 cm width. Leaf color.—Young leaves upper surface; 179A, young leaves lower surface; 180A, mature upper surface; 137A to 137B, mature lower surface; 138A, fall color; upper surface a blend of 178A and 181A, lower surface 180A. Petioles.—Average of 4.2 cm in length and 0.9 mm in diameter, both surfaces moderately glossy, strong, upper surface color; 180B, changing to 181A at the proximal end, fading to 179C at the distal end, lower surface color; 180B, fading to 152D at the distal end, base 151A. Stipules.—None. Inflorescence description: None produced to date. Fruit and seed: None produced.