<i>Thuja </i>plant named ‘RutThu6’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named RutThu6, characterized by its compact, rounding form and yellow foliage with orange tips; growth and heat tolerance in USDA Zone 8a, growth in full sun and afternoon shade conditions in landscape and full sun in container production, disease and insect resistance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named RutThu6 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar RutThu6 showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of RutThu6. The photographs were taken around October 2024 on plants grown outdoors in Watkinsville, Georgia.

(2) The photograph labeled FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a typical 9-year-old RutThu6 plant showing the compact, rounded growth form and features and yellow toned foliage.

(3) The photograph labeled FIG. 2 depicts a close up view of the branches and needles of a typical 9-year-old RutThu6 plant showing the yellow colored foliage and the orange-toned tips of 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 some in MN) and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety RutThu6.

(5) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the cultivar named RutThu6. Data were collected from a horticulture farm in Watkinsville, Georgia from 9-year-old plants. The average 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 RutThu6. Commercial classification: Ornamental conifer. Parentage: Open pollination of mixed Thuja occidentalis Bodmeri 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.About 9 inch height and width increase per year. Root description.Typically 2-5 roots arising from the base of the cuttings. Rooting habit.Moderate (i.e., about 4-5 roots per cutting). Plant description: Habit.Compact, rounded. Usage.Various uses, including landscaping, ornamental, container, border, hedge, and mass planting. Size.Height: From soil level to top of plant, about 78 inches. Width: About 78 inches. Ratio of height to width: About 1.0. Number of main trunks.About 5 per plant. Average main trunk diameter.About 1.25-2 inches at 3 ft above the soil surface. Bark surface texture.Smooth. Bark color designation (RHS).Grayed-green 197B. Winter foliage color (RHS).Greyed-orange 165B. Branch/stem (terminal tuft).Quantity: About 9 branchlets per 12 inches of length. Length (of year 1 stem): About 4-9 cm. Base Diameter (of year 2 stem): About 3-4 mm at 15 cm from tip. Branch angle: About 45 from horizontal. Odor (of bruised stem): Mild evergreen. Internode length: About 1.5-2 cm (about 5 internodes per lateral branch). Color (RHS) (of 0.5 year stem): Yellow green 145A to greyed orange 167D. Pubescence: None. Shape: Round. Leaf.Leaf type: Scale. Mature size (LW): About 2 mmabout 2 mm. Arrangement on stem: Decussate. Aspect: Upright. Color (RHS): Upper: Yellow 6A. Lower: Yellow 6C to yellow green 145A. Tips: Yellow orange 17A. Leaf Number: Average of about 12 per cm/stem. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire-Hyaline margin. Shape: Scale. Pubescence: None. Venation: None. Texture: Waxy with abaxial gland. Odor when crushed: Mild evergreen. Long shoots.Facial Gland: Present. Leaf Shape: Scale. Color: Greyed orange 167D. Tips: Appressed tips. Apex: Acute. Coning production.None observed to date. Seed.None observed to date. Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Thuja have heat tolerance in USDA Zone 8a, with better heat tolerance (e.g., observed tolerance of temperatures up to about 98 F.) than similar yellow-foliaged Thuja cultivars, and have a USDA Zone range 3-8. RutThu6 thrives in full sun (e.g., observed tolerance of solar radiation up to about 8 kWh per square meter) and afternoon shade in landscape and full sun for container production. RutThu6 shows no/minimal summer foliage browning of new growth in full sun. Disease/pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Thuja have not shown any disease or insect issues in field and container trials.