White spruce tree named ‘Charlie J. Nickel’

Abstract

A new cultivar of white spruce tree named Charlie J. Nickel that is characterized by its needles that are tinted blue in color, its uniform ovate-shaped plant habit with a strong central leader, and its good growth rate.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of white spruce tree named Charlie J. Nickel as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The plant and plant parts depicted in the accompanied photographs illustrate the characteristics of Charlie J. Nickel. The photographs were taken of 26-year-old plants as grown in the ground in Manhattan, Kans.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit of Charlie J. Nickel.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of Charlie J. Nickel.

(4) The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a comparison between trees of Charlie J. Nickel on the left and Westervelt on the right.

(5) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Picea.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as taken from 2-year-old trees as grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in McMinnville, Oreg. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Plant type.Coniferous, evergreen for landscape use. Growth habit.Uniform, ovate-shaped. Height and spread.An average of 12 m height and width (at base) for a tree ten years in age. Hardiness.At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 2 to 6. Diseases and pests.No susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases has been observed. Root description.Fibrous, moderately branched, moderately thick, a blend of N199B and N199C in color. Growth rate.Good for plants of the species, an average of 15 cm per year. Propagation.Grafting. Time to graft a young plant.About 6 to 8 weeks to graft onto 1-year-old Norway Spruce rootstock. Branch description: Trunk and branch shape.Rounded. Branch size.Main trunk; 95 cm in length, 2.5 cm in diameter measured 2 cm from soil level, lateral branches; average of 60 cm in length, up to 1.5 cm in width, tertiary branches; up to 35 cm in length, 7 mm in width. Stem surface.Main and lateral branches; finely covered with bark and covered with lenticels; raised, 15 per 2 cm2 cm, 200A in color. Branching.Average of 19 lateral branches, 4 to 6 tertiary branches per lateral, strong central leader. Stem arrangement.Main branches; whorled, irregular, lateral branches; opposite. Stem aspect.Strong, held at an average angle of 45 or less. Internode length.Average of 4 cm. Stem color.One year-old stems; 161B, mature bark; close to 201A with slight undertones of N199B. Resin glands.None observed. Foliage description: Leaf arrangement.Densely whorled needles. Leaf attachment.Sessile. Leaf shape.Linear, scale-like, obliquely pointed. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf base.Truncate Leaf apex.Oblique. Leaf venation.Not visible. Leaf margins.Entire. Leaf fragrance.When crushed, it produces a pine-like fragrance. Leaf surface and texture.Young upper and lower surfaces; glabrous, glossy, mature upper and lower surfaces; glabrous, matte. Leaf color.Young; 145A, mature; a blend of 139A and 139B. Leaf size.An average of 1.5 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Leaf quantity.Average of 130 per branchlet 15 cm in length. Leaf buds.1 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter, a blend of 166A in color, comprised of imbricate scales orbicular and cupped in shape and average of 2 mm in length and width, glossy surface, pointed apex, narrow oblong in shape, average of 6 per 15 cm branchlet. Cone description: None observed at date.