Thuja plant named ‘Lesdasma’

Abstract

A new Thuja plant particularly distinguished by having green to dark green leaf color, dense branching and a slender conical plant habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named ‘Lesdasma’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) This new Thuja plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which shows plant grown in soil and then potted. The photographs are of an eight (8) year-old plant grown outdoors in Bokholt-Hanredder, Germany in October 2011. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the cultivar Thuja ‘Lesdasma’ grown in a pot.

(3) FIG. 2 shows FIG. 1 expanded to show a conventional Thuja ‘Smaragd’ on the right and the cultivar Thuja ‘Lesdasma’ on the left.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(4) The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Lesdasma’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Aarslev, Denmark. Data was collected on plants 3 to 6 years of age. 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), except where otherwise noted. Classification: Family.—Cupressaceae. Genus.—Thuja. Species.—occidentalis. Common name.—Arborvitae, American Arborvitae, Northern Whitecedar. Parentage: Mutation parent.—The commercial line Thuja ‘Smaragd’ (not patented). Plant: Type.—Conifer Propagation type: Cutting. Shape.—Slender conic. Density.—Medium to dense. Growth rate.—Slow to medium. Use.—Thuja occidentalis ‘Lesdasma’ is a medium growing coniferous shrub that can be used as a solitary garden plant or grouped as a hedge planting. Height (8 year-old plant).—85.0 cm. Width (spread) (8 year-old plant).—38.0 cm. Vigor.—Medium. Average growth rate.—15.0 cm per season. Time to initiate roots during the summer.—Approximately 60 days. Number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the summer.—270 days. Time to a finished plant.—24 months. Roots: Density.—Densely growing, fine roots. Branching.—Dense. Thickness.—Fine. Texture.—Similar to Thuja occidentalis. Stem (trunk): Diameter.—1.5 cm to 2.0 cm (measured at 5.0 cm from soil). Texture.—Smooth when young, but develops narrow, irregularly shredding bark over time. Mature trunk bark color.—RHS 200B (The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 6th edition). Lateral branches: Branching habit.—Dense. Type.—Upright aspect, linear, alternate. Densely divided with many secondary and tertiary branchlets that are flattened and held in a vertical orientation. Attitude.—Erect. Number of lateral branches per plant (average).—Medium to many. Diameter (average).—0.4 cm. Length of internode (average).—4.0 cm. Texture.—Smooth. Strength.—Flexible. Pubescence.—Absent. Color.—Between RHS N199B and RHS N199C (The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 6th edition). Branchlets.—Quantity: Many. Average length including foliage: 14.4 cm. Average diameter of stem: 0.19 cm. Average width including foliage: 8.0 cm. Color: Between RHS 166B and RHS 166C; white markings absent (The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 6th edition). Leaves: Arrangement.—Opposite and simple. Type.—Flattened scale-like leaves, appressed along branches and branchlets. Fragrance.—Present, aromatic and cedar-like. Shape.—Rounded. Length.—Average is 2.75 mm. Width.—Narrow to medium; average is 1.54 mm. Thickness.—Thin. Axis.—Straight. Apex.—Acute. Attitude of spray.—Oblique. Color (The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 6th edition).—In spring and fall: Upper side: Green; RHS 144A to RHS 144B. Lower side: Green; RHS 144A. In summer: Upper side: Green; RHS 143A to RHS 141A. Lower side: Green; Between RHS NN137A and RHS NN137B. In winter: Upper side: Dark Green; RHS 152B to RHS 146B. Lower side: Dark Green; between RHS 146A and RHS 146B. Variegation.—Absent. Durability to stresses.—High, tolerates urban climates. Venation.—None. Glands.—Absent or few. Glossiness.—Weak. Fragrance.—Typical fragrance of Thuja. Cone and seed production: Not observed. Disease and insect resistance: No disease or insect resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

(5) ‘Lesdasma’ is distinguished from its parent as described in Table 1:

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Trait ‘Lesdasma’ ‘Smaragd’ Leaf color (spring/fall, Green to Dark green Light green summer, winter) Growth (branches) Dense Very dense Habit Slender conic Conic

(7) ‘Lesdasma’ is similar to the commercial Thuja ‘Silvanus 1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,036). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

(8) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison with Known Variety Trait ‘Lesdasma’ ‘Silvanus 1’ Vigor Slow to medium Slow Leaf thickness Thin Thin to medium Leaf width Narrow to medium Narrow Habit Slender conic Ovoid