<i>Thuja </i>plant named ‘RutThu7’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named RutThu7, characterized by its nice columnar form, dark green foliage that does not have chartreuse tips and lack of stem canker and root rot issues can be grown in USDA Zone 8a and is well suited for small urban gardens.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named RutThu7 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying, colored photographic illustrations show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar Thuja RutThu7 showing the colors as true as possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description. The photographs were taken around October 2024 of plants grown outdoors in Watkinsville, Georgia.

(2) The photograph labeled FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a typical 9-year-old RutThu7 plant showing the upright, columnar form and features.

(3) The photograph labeled FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the branches and needles of a typical 9-year-old RutThu7 plant showing the dark green color and lack of chartreuse-coloring on new growth.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plants of the new varieties and in asexually propagated progeny grown in Watkinsville, Georgia, and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety RutThu7.

(5) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the Thuja cultivar named RutThu7. Data were collected from a horticulture farm in Watkinsville, Georgia from 9-year-old plants. The average low temperatures ranged from about 20 F. to 30 F. in the winter and about 90 F. to 100 F. in summer. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. The data were collected in December 2023 and August 2024.

(6) Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5th edition published by the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical Classification: Thuja RutThu7. Commercial Classification: Ornamental conifer. Parentage: Open pollination of Thuja occidentalis Pyramidalis by unknown pollen parents. Growth and Propagation: Propagation type.Terminal or sub-terminal hardwood cuttings. Growth rate.Slow to moderate. Average growth rate per year.25-28 cm height increase per year. Root description.Typically about 2-6 roots arising from the base of the cuttings. Rooting habit.Good. Plant description: Habit.Upright conical, columnar. Usage.Various uses, including landscaping, ornamental, container, border, hedge, urban gardening, and mass planting. Vigor.Good. Size.Height: From soil level to top of plant is about 98 inches. Width: About 48 inches. Ratio of height to width: About 2.0. Average trunk diameter.3.0 cm diameter at 1.4 m height. Bark surface texture.Coarse and flaking. Bark color designation (RHS).Greyed-orange 177A. Winter foliage color (RHS).Greyed-orange 165C. Branch/Stem (terminal tuft): Quantity.5 branchlets per linear foot. Length.About 3-7 cm. Base Diameter (of 2 year stem).About 3-4 mm at 15 cm from tip. Branch angle.Variable, but on average about 65 from horizontal. Odor (of bruised stem).Mild evergreen scent. Internode length.About 5-20 mm (about 5 internodes per lateral branch). Color (RHS) (at 0.5 year).Yellow Green 144A to greyed-orange 172B. Color (RHS) (new growth).Dark green 137D. Strength of lateral branches.Good. Pubescence.None. Shape.Round. Leaf: Leaf type.Scale. Mature size (L W).About 2 mm about 3 mm. Arrangement on stem.Decussate. Aspect.Upright to slightly spreading. Color (RHS).Upper: Green 138A. Lower: Green 138A. Apex.Acute-attenuate. Base.Rounded. Margin.Smooth/hyaline. Shape.Flattened, decussate no lobes present. Pubescence.None. Venation.None. Texture.Waxy, abaxial gland present. Odor when crushed.Mild evergreen. Long Shoots: Facial Gland.Present. Leaf Shape.Linear. Color.Green 138A. Tips.Free/acuminate. Apex.Acute-attenuate. Coning production.None. Seed.None. Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Thuja have been observed to grow in USDA Zone 8a, with cold hardiness, and Thuja have a typical USDA Zone range of 3-8. Plants of the new Thuja have also been observed to be resistant to stem dieback (i.e., Pestalotiopsis sp., Seridium cardinale) under hot, dry conditions. Disease/pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Thuja have been observed to have disease resistance (i.e., Phytophthora sp.) in USDA Zone 8a when grown under standard conditions.