Sand cherry plant named ‘UCONNPP002’

Abstract

This invention relates to an intermediate height Sand Cherry plant known as Prunus pumila and referred to by the name ‘UCONNPP002’, with a dense mounded form that is easy to produce and exhibits reliable landscape performance and ornamental traits as shown herein and described.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Sand Cherry plant named Prunus pumila ‘UCONNPP002’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sand Cherry 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 that accurately describe the colors of the new Sand Cherry plant.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘UCONNPP002’ grown in an outdoor nursery and in bloom in May. The plant shown is three years old.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 shows four typical second year container grown plants of ‘UCONNPP002’ produced from softwood cuttings.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 is a close up of the densely flowered branch of ‘UCONNPP002’ showing the abundant white 5-petaled flowers.

(5) The photograph in FIG. 4 shows the brightly colored orange fall foliage of ‘UCONNPP002’.

(6) The photograph in FIG. 5 is a view of the early season shoot growth and foliage.

(7) The photograph in FIG. 6 shows a close up of summer foliage exhibiting the deep green lustrous color on the leaves upper surface (adaxial surface, left two leaves) and the matte gray green of the undersides (abaxial surface, right two leaves).

(8) The photograph in FIG. 7 shows a side perspective view of a mature (3-years old), container-grown plant in foliage in late June.

(9) The photograph in FIG. 8 shows a top view of a mature (3-years old), container-grown plant in foliage in late June.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(10) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants grown during the spring in containers in an outdoor nursery in Storrs, Conn. and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Sand Cherry production. Plants used for the photographs and description were four years old. In the following detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Prunus pumila ‘UCONNPP002’ (syn. P. pumila var. depressa x P. pumila var. susquehanae). Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Prunus pumila var. depressa (syn. Prunus depressa), not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Prunus pumila var. susquehanae (syn. Prunus susquehanae), not patented. Propagation: Type.—Micropropagation using in vitro shoot multiplication followed by microshoot rooting. Murashige and Skoog medium containing 0.5 mg/L benzyladenine for shoot multiplication. Microshoots root easily in humidity chambers under non-sterile conditions with 1,000 ppm indole butyric acid in talc dip. Type.—Softwood cuttings, but must be firm at the base. 1,000 to 3,000 ppm IBA in talc. Time to initiate roots (softwood cutting), summer.—About 1 month at temperatures about 80-85° F. (˜27-29° C.). Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 1.5 months at temperatures about 80-85° F. (˜27-29° C.). Root description.—Fine, greenish-pink roots. Rooting habit.—Fibrous and profuse. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.—Mounded and dense, arching primary stem upright secondary branches. Plant height.—About 60 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 120 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.—About 10-50 cm. Diameter.—About 2 mm to 3 mm. Internode length.—About 1 cm. Aspect.—90° angle from stem. Strength.—Firm, but flexible. Texture.—Smooth with 1 mm lenticels having a color close to 202C. Color.—Close to 144B new growth and 166A mature bark. Thorns.—Quantity: None. Stipule description: Length.—About 5.0 mm. Width.—About 1.0 mm. Color.—144B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate. Length.—About 7.5 cm. Width.—About 3.0 cm. Shape.—Elliptical. Apex.—Broadly acute. Base.—Broadly acute. Margin.—Very finely serrated. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly embossed veins, otherwise glabrous. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Fully expanded mature leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A, 139A, 147A. Fully expanded mature leaves, lower surface: Close to 191A. Autumn foliage color is 43B, 44B, 44C on the adaxial surface. Petiole.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1-2 mm. Texture: glabrous. Color: 137C, 147B. Flower description: Flower arrangement and habit.—Numerous small flowers occur all along the length of the previous season's annual growth in umbel-like clusters; typically, about 65 flowers per 15 cm length of stem. Flowers occur at each node, numbering between 2-4 flowers per bud and 4-8 flowers per node from 2 flower buds. Fragrance.—Significantly fragrant with a sweet, perfumed scent. Natural flowering season.—Late April to early May in Connecticut. Flower longevity.—10-14 days. Inflorescence length.—About 2.5-3 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm. Flower diameter.—About 20 mm. Flower length (height).—About 10 mm. Flower buds.—Length: About 2-8 mm. Diameter: About 2-5 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 155D. Petals.—Arrangement: 5 petals in a single whorl. Petals may be separate, touching, or rarely overlapping slightly. Length: About 8-9 mm. Width: About 4-6 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire, with slight irregular teeth. Texture, Upper and lower surfaces: smooth. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: same as for opening. Sepals.—Arrangement: 5 sepals in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Broadly strap-like with rounded tip. Apex: Rounded. Base: Squared. Margin: Ciliate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: smooth. Color: Upper and lower surfaces, 146C. Pedicels.—Length: About 12-15 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: 145B. Aspect: About 30 to 60 degrees from stem axis. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: 27 to 31. Anther shape: Two kidney halves together make a round form. Anther length: About <1 mm. Anther color: Close to 12A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 162A. Filament color: Close to 155D. Filament length: About 5 mm. Pistils: Quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: About 6-7 mm. Style length: About 4-5 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have been observed on plants of the new Sand Cherry ‘UCONNPP002’. Fruits: 0.75-1.0 cm diameter; rounded. Unripe fruit: 143C; ripe fruit 59B, 79A, 187A, 202A. Seeds: 0.5-0.75 cm diameter, rounded. Seed color: close to 162C, 163C. Garden performance: Plants of the new Sand Cherry ‘UCONNPP002’ have been observed to have excellent garden performance in full sun and well-drained soils. They tolerate winter minimum temperatures down to about −30° F. (−34.4° C.) and are best adapted to locations receiving fewer than 50 summer days with temperatures exceeding 86° F. (30° C.). Pathogen and pest resistance: Plants of the new Sand Cherry have been observed to be resistant to leaf spot. Plants of the new Sand Cherry have not been shown to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Sand Cherry plants.