<i>Thuja </i>plant named ‘SMNTOO’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named ‘SMNTOO’, characterized by its upright plant habit; narrow columnar plant form; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; dense and bushy form; branchlets that are twisting; bright green-colored leaves; bright green coloration maintained during the winter; and good winter hardiness.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Thuja plant named ‘SMNTOO’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Thuja plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. 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 Thuja plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMNTOO’.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘SMNTOO’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in the spring in three-gallon containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Thuja production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Thuja occidentalis ‘SMNTOO’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot's Spire’, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Thuja occidentalis, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 45 days at temperatures about 10° C. to 27° C. Time to produce rooted young plants, summer.—About six months at temperatures about 10° C. to 27° C. Root description.—Thick to fine; fibrous; typically white and tan in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub; upright plant habit and narrowly columnar plant form; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate. Plant height.—About 100 cm. Plant diameter, base.—About 25 cm to 30 cm. Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about 50 to 75 lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy habit. Lateral branch description.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Aspect: Main branch, upright; lateral branches about 20° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture, developing branches: Scaly; glabrous. Texture, main trunk: Woody. Color: Close to N200A. Leaf description.—Appearance and arrangement: Flattened and closely appressed, scale-like; opposite, simple; sessile. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Venation pattern: Parallel. Texture: Rough, glabrous; coriaceous; waxy. Fragrance: Aromatic and cedar-like. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN137B; venation, close to NN137B. Cone description: To date, cone development has not been observed on plants of the new Thuja. Garden performance: Plants of the new Thuja have been observed have good garden performance and good winter hardiness. Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Thuja have been observed to be resistant to root rot pathogens. Plants of the new Thuja have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Thuja plants.