White spruce tree named ‘Westervelt’

Abstract

A new cultivar of white spruce tree named Westervelt characterized by its needle foliage that is blue in color and soft in texture, needles and foliage that is narrow in diameter and size and upright and narrow plant habit with a strong central leader.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of white spruce tree named Westervelt 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 Westervelt. The photographs were taken of a ten year-old plant as grown in the ground in Manhattan, Kans.

(2) FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the plant habit of Westervelt.

(3) FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage Westervelt.

(4) 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

(5) The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as taken from 3 year-old trees as grown outdoors in 30-liter containers in Manhattan, Kans. 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 R.H.S. 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.Narrowly upright. Height and spread.An average of 100 cm in height and 50 cm in width on a 3 year-old tree, a 14 year-old plant will reach 6 m in height with a spread of 0.7 to 1 m. 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.Slow, 15 to 20 cm per year. Propagation.Grafting. Time to produce a young plant.About 2 years to fully develop in a 2-gallon container starting from grafting onto understock of Norway spruce in the winter. Branch description: Trunk and branch shape.Rounded. Branch size.Main trunk; 100 cm in length, 3 cm in diameter measured 2 cm from soil level, lateral branches; average of 55 cm in length, up to 1.5 cm in width, tertiary branches; up to 35 cm in length, 7 cm in width. Stem surface.Main and lateral branches; finely covered with bark, covered with lenticels, raised, 12 per 22 cm, 200A in color. Branching.Average of 14 lateral branches, 2 to 3 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; 161C, mature bark; close to N199B, but lighter. 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.Upper and lower surfaces; smooth, glossy. Leaf color.Immature and mature upper and lower surfaces; closest to 117C (189A on inner shaded leaves). Leaf texture.Finer than is typical for Picea glauca. Leaf size.An average of 2 cm in length and 0.8 mm in width. Leaf quantity.Average of 160 per branchlet 14 cm in length. Leaf buds.5 mm in length and 3 mm in width, a blend of 165A and 165B in color, comprised of imbricate scales orbicular and cupped in shape and average of 2 mm in length and width. Cone description: Although cones have been observed in the past on the original tree, cones have not been observed on the plants available for data collection.