Japanese snowbell tree named ‘JFS 6SJ’

Abstract

A variety of Styrax japonicus which combines a combination of a mounding weeping habit, profuse single white flowers, dark purple foliage that remains glossy & disease free through the summer.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Japanese snowbell tree as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting conditions and, therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.

(2) FIG. 1: Shows the original tree at 8 years of age with summer foliage.

(3) FIG. 2: Shows a close-up of the spring foliage on the original tree.

(4) FIG. 3: Shows a close up of flowers on the original tree.

(5) FIG. 4: Shows a close up of flower buds on a display board with scale.

(6) FIG. 5: Shows a close up of flowers on a display board with scale.

(7) FIG. 6: Shows a close up of flowers on a display board with scale.

(8) FIG. 7: Shows new spring foliage tip on a display board with scale.

(9) FIG. 8: Shows autumn leaves on a display board with scale.

(10) FIG. 9: Shows 3 year old trees in nursery row production.

(11) FIG. 10: Shows the original tree in winter without foliage.

(12) FIG. 11: Shows seed on a display board with scale.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(13) The following detailed description of the ‘JFS 6SJ’ variety is based on observations of the original tree growing in Boring, Oreg. and of two and three year old asexually reproduced progeny. The observed progeny were trees which were growing in Boring, Oreg. Color descriptions are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart © 1986, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. Scientific name: Styrax japonicus ‘JFS 6SJ’. Parentage: Seed parent.—Open pollinated seedling of Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,168. Pollen parent.—Unknown. Tree: Overall shape.—Upright with pendulous branching. Height.—At 9 years of age, about 2.5 meters high. Width.—At 9 years of age 1 meter spread. Caliper (trunk diameter).—At 9 years of age, about 85 mm at 100 mm height, 65 mm at 1 m height. Trunk.—Strong with curves under nursery growing conditions. Trunk bark texture.—Smooth with longitudinal shallow fissures. Trunk bark color.—Greyed Green 197B. Immature bark color.—Greyed Orange 163D. Mature bark color.—Greyed Green 197C to 198B. Lenticels.—Absent. Branch color.—Greyed Brown 199A. Branch lenticels.—Absent. Dormant buds.—Sessile 3-4 mm long 1-1.5 mm wide. Internodes.—Average internode length is about 15-25 mm on one-year-old shoots. Hardiness.—Has tolerated temperatures to 14° F. in Boring, Oreg. (Jan. 6, 2017) which is the lowest temperature experienced at this location for this period. It is believed to have zone 5 cold hardiness similar to other plants of the same species. Leaves: Except as otherwise noted, observations are from twenty vigorous growth leaves. Arrangement.—Alternate. Type.—Simple, entire. Texture.—Smooth, with slight undulation between the veins. Sheen.—Glossy on upper surface Matt on the lower surface. Length.—Averaging 60 mm-90 mm. Width.—Averaging 20 mm to 40 mm. Petioles.—8 mm to 10 mm long, about 1-2 mm in diameter. Overall shape.—Ovate. Margin.—Serrulate. Tip.—Acuminate. Base.—Acute. Spring leaf color.—Greyed-Purple 187A to 187B. Summer leaf color.—Greyed-Purple 187A fading to Green 139A. Lower leaf surface: Green 137A to 137B. Vein: Greyed-Purple 187C. Fall Leaf Color: Foliage returns to Greyed-Purple 187A fading to Brown 200A. Fall color begins.—October 15th (Boring, Oreg. 2021). Fall color peak.—November 1st (Boring, Oreg. 2021). Fall color ends.—November 20th (Boring, Oreg. 2021). Pubescence.—None. Persistence.—Tree is deciduous. Flowers: Overall.—Number of flowers per cluster: 4 to 5. Size.—24 mm to 28 mm in diameter. Shape.—Symmetrical, rounded, 5 petals, not cupped. Unopened bud.—Red Purple 65B to Red Purple 65C. Petals.—Five petals per flower, 6 mm to 8 mm wide×15 mm to 18 mm long. Color White 155A to very pale Red-Purple 62D. Stamens.—About 10 to 15 stamens, 8 mm to 10 mm arranged concentrically around pistil. Anthers.—Orange 26A. 2 mm to 3 mm long by 0.5 mm to 1 mm in diameter. Pistil.—Yellow 10A, length 8 mm-10 mm. Pollen.—Orange 26A. Pedicel.—20 mm to 30 mm long by 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm in diameter. Red 46A. Pubescence.—None. Fragrance.—Slightly sweet. Flowering date.—In Boring, Oreg. 2021 (an average bloom year). First bloom May 15th, peak bloom May 30th, last bloom June 15th. Fruit: Observations are from a sampling of typical seeds. Cluster.—4 to 5 seeds per cluster. Type.—Dried drupe, ovoid, longer than wide. Size.—Typical fruit is 8 mm to 10 mm in length by 6 mm to 8 mm wide. Color.—Immature fruit is Greyed-Green 194A to 194C. Seeds.—Typically 1 per fruit, ovoid 6 mm to 8 mm long by 5 mm to 6 mm wide. Seed color.—Mature seed is Greyed — Orange 164A to 164B.

COMPARISON TO THE SEED PARENT

(14) Compared to the seed parent tree Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ the claimed cultivar ‘JFS K6SJ’ has a very different growth habit having pendulous weeping branches rather than an upright growing habit.

(15) TABLE-US-00001 COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR VARIETIES: Styrax japonicus Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ ‘JL Weeping’ Styrax japonicus U.S. Plant Pat. U.S. Plant Pat. ‘JFS 6SJ’ No. 24,168 No. 23,755 Form Pendulous Growth Upright Growth Pendulous Growth Leaf Color Purple Purple Green Leaf Length 60 mm to 90 mm 40 mm to 70 mm 80 mm to 100 mm Flowers Single. White 155A Single. White Single. Red - to Red-Purple 62D 155B Purple 65B Comparative Late May to Mid Late May to Mid Mid to late May in flowering June in Boring June in Boring Boring Oregon time Oregon Oregon