Cherry Laurel Plant Named 'Jong1'

Abstract

A new cherry laurel plant particularly distinguished by being winter hardy, having healthy growth, and a compact and bushy habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Prunus laurocerasus plant designated Jong1 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0009] This new cherry laurel plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, and foliage. The photographs are of a two-year-old plant grown outdoors in The Netherlands in March 2015. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of Jong1.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a close-up of an individual leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0012] The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of Jong1. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in The Netherlands. Data was collected on two-year-old plants grown outdoors in The Netherlands in March 2015. The range of day temperatures was 10 C. to 25 C. and the range of night temperatures was 6 C. to 14 C. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5.sup.th edition (2007). [0013] Classification: [0014] Family.Rosaceae. [0015] Botanical.Prunus laurocerasus. [0016] Common.Cherry laurel; English laurel. [0017] Designation.Jong1. [0018] Plant: [0019] Type.Perennial, evergreen shrub. [0020] Time to produce a finished plant.About 2.5 years from rooted cuttings. [0021] Appropriate container for producing a finished plant.1.5 liter containers and larger or field-grown. [0022] Plant shape.Moderately broad inverted triangle. [0023] Growth habit.Moderately broad upright. [0024] Average plant height.60.5 cm. [0025] Average plant diameter.53.3 cm. [0026] Growth rate.About 40.0 cm per season as a pot-grown young plant. [0027] Vigor.Moderately high. [0028] High temperature tolerance.Unknown, but tolerant to temperatures up to 35 C. [0029] Low temperature tolerance.Unknown, but at least hardy to USDA Zone 6. [0030] Disease/pest resistance and susceptibility.Not more susceptible to pests and diseases than other varieties of same species. [0031] Branches: [0032] Habit.Moderate. [0033] Basal branching.Present. [0034] Pinching.Not required but will improve branching. [0035] Number of lateral branches per plant.Average is 10. [0036] Branch length.Average is 40.1 cm. [0037] Branch diameter.Average is 4.0 mm. [0038] Internode length.Average is 2.4 cm. [0039] Appearance and shape.Rounded; young branches are slightly angled towards the top; glossy. [0040] Aspect.Lateral stems have an average angle of 40 degrees to the main stem. [0041] Strength.Strong. [0042] Color.Younger branches are RHS 143B; older branches are RHS N199A (Grey-brown). [0043] Pubescence.Absent. [0044] Texture.Smooth. [0045] Leaves: [0046] General.At the base of each leaf, there are an average of 4 glands that are visible on the lower surface, with 2 glands on each side of the main leaf vein; the diameter of each gland is 1.0 cm; the color of each gland is RHS 183D (Greyed-purple); the presence of these glands is typical for this species. [0047] Arrangement.Alternate, single. [0048] Number of leaves per branch.Average is 17. [0049] Shape.Obovate to near elliptic. [0050] Apex.Short apiculate. [0051] Base.Rounded to very short attenuate. [0052] Margin.Slightly revolute; serrate with shallow serrated margins; average of 3 teeth per centimeter. [0053] Length.Average is 8.8 cm. [0054] Width.Average is 4.4 cm. [0055] Texture.Smooth; upper surface is very glossy; lower surface is slightly glossy. [0056] Venation pattern.Pinnate. [0057] Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).RHS 144A (Yellow-green). [0058] Color.Immature: Upper surface: Between RHS 143A (Green) to RHS 144A (Yellow-green) Lower surface: Between RHS 144A (Yellow-green) and RHS 144B (Yellow-green) Mature: Upper surface: Between RHS N137A (Dark-green) to RHS 147A (Yellow-green), but closest to RHS N137A and darker Lower surface: Between RHS 144A (Yellow-green) and RHS 146B (Yellow-green). [0059] Petiole.Length: Average is 0.9 cm Diameter: Average is 2.0 mm Color: RHS 144A (Yellow-green) Durability of foliage to stresses: High Texture: Smooth [0060] Flowers/seed/fruit: Not observed to date

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETY AND PARENTAL LINES

[0061] Jong1 can be distinguished between the commercial variety Antonius (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,314) in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison with Commercial Variety Characteristic Jong1 Antonius Internode length 2.4 cm 8.0 cm

[0062] Jong1 can be distinguished from the un-named parental lines in that Jong1 has a more compact and bushy plant habit that the parental lines.