Metasequoia plant named 'WAH-08AG'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Metasequoia plant named ‘WAH-08AG’, characterized by its bright yellow-green colored foliage that transitions to greyed-orange in the fall, foliage that resists burning with increased temperature and sunlight, and moderately vigorous, compact, dense pyramidal growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Metasequoia plant named ‘WAH-08AG’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0017] The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘WAH-08AG’. With the exception of FIG. 3, the plants were 21 months old and grown for 11 months in an outdoor nursery in West Grove, Pa.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth of ‘WAH-08AG’.

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage in fall color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0021] The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0022] The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2017 under natural light conditions in West Grove, Pa. Fall color was taken from the same plants in August 2016 under natural light conditions in West Grove, Pa.

[0023] The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from semi-hardwood cuttings from stock plants and grown outside in a test field in West Grove, Pa. Plants were 21 months old and grown for 11 months in 3 gallon containers utilizing soilless growth medium. Temperatures ranged from an average high of 93.0° F. (33.9° C.) to an average low of 8.0° F. (−13.3° C.). Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. [0024] Botanical classification: Metasequoia glyptostoboides cultivar ‘WAH-08AG’. [0025] Parentage: [0026] Female parent.—‘Ogon’ also known as ‘Gold Rush’, not patented. [0027] Male parent.—Unknown, but presumed to be ‘Sheridan Spire’, not patented. [0028] Propagation: [0029] Type cutting.—Semi-hardwood or hardwood; grafting also possible. [0030] Time to initiate roots in summer.—10 to 14 days. [0031] Time to initiate roots in winter.—30 to 45 days. [0032] Time to produce a rooted cutting in summer.—30 to 45 days. [0033] Time to produce a rooted cutting in winter.—8.5 to 13 weeks. [0034] Root description.—Fleshy, medium thickness. Color: 165C. [0035] Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. [0036] Plant description: [0037] Type.—Deciduous conifer. [0038] Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, compact, dense pyramidal form. [0039] Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 months from a rooted cutting to finish in an 3 gallon pot. [0040] Size.—Height from soil to top of plant plane: Approximately 63.0 cm. Width: Approximately 63.0 cm. After approximately six years growth plant can reach heights to 4.6 m (15 feet) and widths of 2.0 m to 2.4 m (7 to 8 feet). [0041] Trunk.—Diameter at midpoint: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous, rough in areas with cracking and exfoliating bark. Color: Between 177A and 174A, with bark of 177A and 200A. [0042] Branches.—Freely branching. Strength: Moderately strong. Quantity: Approximately 10 main branches. Appearance: Dull, covered with scale-like leaves. Arrangement: Opposite. Length: Approximately 30.0 cm to 33.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Internode length at midpoint: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stem: 164A with streaks of 165A. Color of mature stem: 174A with streaks of 201A. [0043] Foliage description: [0044] General description.—Type: Approximately 50% compound and 50% simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Quantity per lateral branch: Approximately 12 to 14. [0045] Leaves.—Shape: Paripinnate, with an overall oblong shape. Appearance: Dull. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.2 cm. Leaflet shape: Ligulate. Leaflet apex: Acute. Leaflet base: Attenuate to Rounded. Leaflet margin: Entire. Leaflet length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Leaflet width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 144A and N144B with venation indistinguishable from leaf lamina. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 144A and N144B with venation indistinguishable from leaf lamina. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 144A and N144B, in the fall transitions to a greyed orange 170A through 170C. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 144B, in the fall transitions to a greyed orange 166D. [0046] Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: N144B. [0047] Cone and seed production: Not available, cone and seed production were not observed. [0048] Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Metasequoia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Metasequoia. [0049] Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Metasequoia have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. (104° F.) and low temperatures of about −16° C. (3.2° F.).