<i>Thuja </i>plant named ‘LilShreckthu’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Thuja plant, referred to by its cultivar name, ‘LilShreckthu’, is disclosed. The new variety forms attractive dark green colored foliage. The new variety provides moderately vigorous, upright, pyramidal and compact growth habit. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms dark green colored foliage, and (b) provides moderately vigorous, upright, pyramidal and compact growth habit; substantially as herein shown and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, a typical specimen of the plant of the new variety. Colors in the photograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘LilShreckthu’. The plant depicted was approximately three years old and was growing in a 3-gallon container in Cochranville, Pa.

(2) Drawing—illustrates a specimen of the plant displaying the overall growth habit—side view.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2001 edition), London, England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The description is based on the observation of typical plants of the new variety at an age of approximately three years during the month of October while growing in a container in Cochranville, Pa. The growing conditions approximated those employed for the commercial production of Thuja plants. Propagation: Type.—Semi-hardwood cuttings. Plant: Growth habit.—Upright, pyramidal, compact. Form.—Perennial evergreen shrub. Height.—Approximately 85.0 cm on average in a three-gallon container. Width.—Approximately 28.0 cm on average in a three-gallon container. Growth rate.—Moderate. Root description.—Fibrous. Root color.—Commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 177A. Stem: Shape.—Oval. Size.—Main branch: approximately 1.5 cm in diameter on average and approximately 85.0 cm in length on average. — lateral branches: approximately 3.0 mm in diameter on average and approximately 19.0 cm in length on average. Surface.—Young branches are glabrous and knobby with scales. Color.—New growth on sprays is commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 177B with scales near Greyed-Orange Group 177A, branches mature to near Brown Group 200C. Branching: General.—Main stem arises from base with numerous secondary branches, number of lateral branches, 19.0 cm in length, an average of 20 per main stem. Arrangement.—Alternate. Aspect.—Main stems upright, lateral stems held at about an average of 20-30 degree angle from the main stem with flat sprays that spread outwards. Internode length.—Typically range from 1.0 cm at the base to 0.5 cm at the tip. Foliage: Leaf arrangement.—Numerous leaves arranged on planar branchlets (closely alternate or opposite), scale-like decussate. Leaf shape.—Facial pair keeled, flat pair flattened and oblong. Leaf division.—Simple. Leaf base.—Cuneate. Leaf apex.—Apiculate. Leaf venation.—Not visible. Leaf margins.—Entire; undulation is slight. Leaf surface.—Upper and lower; glabrous, smooth, semi-glossy. Leaf glands.—Inconspicuous. Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surfaces: commonly near Green Group 141C. — mature upper and lower surfaces: commonly near Green Group 141A. Leaf size.—Approximately of 2.0 mm in length on average and approximately 1.0 mm in width on average. Leaf quantity.—About 8 leaves per cm in lateral branches. Fragrance.—Somewhat acrid when crushed. Development: Cold hardiness.—USDA Zones 4 to 8. Flowers, cones, and seeds.—None observed to date. Resistance to pests.—No pest problems observed to date. Resistance to disease.—No disease susceptibility observed to date.

(4) The new variety, ‘LilShreckthu’, has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.