<i>Taxus </i>plant named ‘SMNTHDB’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Taxus plant named SMNTHDB, characterized by its compact, overall ball-shaped plant form; freely branching habit requiring minimal pruning; dense and bushy appearance; bright green-colored leaves that maintain color throughout the seasons; and good landscape performance and hardiness.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Taxus plant named SMNTHDB as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Taxus 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 Taxus plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of SMNTHDB grown in a container in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse environment in Grand Haven, Mich.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of SMNTHDB grown in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. Plants used for the photographs were three years old.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used for the following observations and measurements were grown during the summer in five-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial Taxus plant 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 two years old when the description was taken. In the following 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: Taxus x media SMNTHDB. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Taxus x media Hicksii, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.Unknown selection of Taxus x media, not patented. Propagation: Type.By softwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots.About one month at temperatures about 18 C. to 27 C. Time to produce a rooted cutting.About three months at temperatures about 18 C. to 27 C. Root description.Thick, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.Perennial evergreen shrub; relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding, overall ball-shaped plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Branching habit.Freely branching habit requiring minimal pruning; dense and bushy appearance; about 20 to 50 lateral branches developing per plant. Plant height.About 47 cm. Plant diameter.About 59 cm. Lateral branch description.Length: About 31 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 15 to 60 from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing: Close to 143A. Color, mature: Close to 174B. Leaf description.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Oblique. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 139A; leaf color is maintained throughout the seasons. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A; venation, close to 143A; leaf color is maintained throughout the seasons. Petioles: Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. Flower description.To date, flower development has not been observed on plants of the new Taxus. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Taxus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Taxus plants. Landscape performance: Plants of the new Taxus have been observed to have good landscape performance and to be tolerant temperatures ranging from about 32 C. to about 36 C.