Ilex plant named ‘SMNIGLA’

Abstract

A new and distinct Ilex plant named ‘SMNIGLA’, characterized by its compact and upright conical plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves that are slightly curled or undulate; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Ilex plant named ‘SMNIGLA’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Ilex plant. The photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ilex plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMNIGLA’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical plants of ‘SMNIGLA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in three-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Ilex production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Ilex glabra ‘SMNIGLA’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Ilex glabra, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Ilex glabra, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight to ten weeks at temperatures about 4.4° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About three to four months at temperatures about 4.4° C. Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically grey brown and creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density to dense. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub; compact and upright conical plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit with about 30 to 40 lateral branches developing per plant. Plant height.—About 60 cm. Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 30 cm. Lateral branch description.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° to 90° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development. Color, developing: Close to 145A. Color, developed: Close to 197B to 197C. Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic to oblong; slightly curled and undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Proximally, entire and distally, serrulate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous with prominent midvein; somewhat glossy. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Flower description: Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single terminal and axillary rotate flowers arranged in clusters of three to four flowers; about 40 flower buds and flower buds per lateral branch; flowers staminate; flowers face mostly outwardly. Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in April in Michigan; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.—None detected. Flower diameter.—About 8 mm. Flower depth.—About 2 mm. Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Color: Close to 145B. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five in a single whorl; fused at the base. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Orbicular to broadly elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; color does not change with subsequent development. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five in a single whorl; fused at the base. Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect: About 45° from lateral branch axis. Strength: Strong; slightly flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145B. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155B. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 1C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 1D. Garden performance: Plants of the new Ilex have been observed to have good garden performance. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ilex plants.