Arborvitae plant named ‘Spireandela’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Thuja plant (commonly known as arborvitae) named Spireandela characterized by very dense curved foliage arranged in a loose upward spiral, very narrow columnar shape, and slow growth habit. It can be grown as a narrow hedging or specimen plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Thuja plant named Spireandela substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the present invention as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a printout of a digital photograph showing the shape and size of Thuja occidentalis Spireandela at 24 years of age. The markings on the surveyors pole are 30.5 centimeters (1 foot) apart.

(3) FIG. 2 is a printout of a digital photograph showing the detail of the curved foliage looking down on a rooted cutting.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in my outdoor nursery located at 4532 Beat Rd. Litchfield, Ohio.

(5) Below is a detailed description of Thuja cultivar Spireandela. The color terminology is from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Charts 1986. Data was collected from a container grown plant in Litchfield, Ohio. Growing requirements are similar to the species. Botanical classification: Thuja occidentalis cultivar Spireandela. Growth habit: Dense, uniform narrow upright. Shape: Narrow columnar. Parentage: Chance seedling of Thuja occidentalis. Propagation: Hardwood branch cuttings. Root description: Creamy white RHS 156A in growing points at ends of roots, light brown RHS 199D elsewhere. Rooting habit: Freely branching, long dense. Form: Narrow columnar form. Sides tapered to vertical trunk about 2- degrees per side. Branching habit: The branches organized in spiral arrangement along the vertical main stem, ascent at an angle of 30-45 degrees from vertical. Plant height: (At 24 years) about 3.8 meters (12.5 feet). Plant diameter: (At 24 years) about 71 centimeters (28 inches). Main trunk diameter: About 7 centimeters (2.7 inches) at 0.9 meter (3 feet) above ground level. Single or multiple trunk. Trunk: Bark fissured, with shallow furrows and vertical shedding strips, color: RHS 200B. Branch length: About 0.5 meter (20 inches). Branch diameter: 1 centimeter (0.39 inch). Branch color: Coming close to RHS 200D. Foliage habit: The foliage is assembled into slightly concave, fan-shaped sprays principally orientated in a horizontal plane at the same angle as the branches. The tips of the sprays are lax, arching over so that they are horizontal to slightly pendant. The effect produced that of overlapping layers of foliage arranged in a loose upward spiral is similar to cultivars of the Hinoki falsecypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa, but is not displayed by any cultivar of Thuja occidentalis with which I am familiar. Foliage tight, dense; density approximately double greater than density typical of Thuja occidentalis, approximate 1334 sprays per square meter (124 sprays per square foot). Leaves: Scale like, rhombic, oviate, acute, about 1 millimeter long, 0.5 millimeter wide closely appressed coming close to being imbricated. Typical of Thuja occidentalis. Born on curved sprays and flat shoots. Leaf color: Summer coloration, upper surface coming close to RHS 134A, lower surface coming close to RHS 138B. Winter coloration: With the onset of cold weather the upper surface color coming close to RHS 137B, lower surface close to RHS 137D. Difference in color between darker upper side and lighter lower side of leaf typical of Thuja occidentalis. Growing leaf tips are close to RHS 134B. Odor: Leaves emitting a cedar like odor when bruised. Hardiness: Observation of the parent growing in Litchfield, Ohio has been observed go be tolerant to drought, rain, wind and temperatures from 23.3 degrees C. (10 degrees F.) to 38.9 degrees C. (102 degrees F.) growing in USDA hardiness zone 6A (formerly zone 5) for 35 seasons. Full sun or partial shade. Vigor: The growth rate is less than the species. Cones: Monoecius, characteristic of the species. Male cones: Terminal on small branchlets, solitary, color RHS 200D when mature. Female cones: Clustered, 9 to 11 millimeters long, 4 millimeters in diameter, color RHS 200D when mature. Glands: Raised glands just below the tip of some leaves, but not all leaves, observed on one or both sides of branchlets. Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or susceptibility has been observed.