Cherry laurel plant named ‘JOPRU2’

Abstract

A new cherry laurel plant particularly distinguished by having an obovate shape with a broad upright habit, a high vigor and growth rate, and yellow-green to green foliage, is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Prunus laurocerasus.

Variety denomination: ‘JOPRU2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of cherry laurel plant, botanically known as Prunus laurocerasus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘JOPRU2’. ‘JOPRU2’ originated from an open-pollination conducted in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands, in July 2011 between un-named and unpatented Prunus laurocerasus parent plants.

The seeds from the open-pollination were sown and plants were grown outdoors for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘JOPRU2’ was selected from the group of plants in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands, in 2013. In November 2017, ‘JOPRU2’ was first vegetatively propagated by softwood cuttings. ‘JOPRU2’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via softwood cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands.

• • 1. An obovate shape with a broad upright habit;
  • 2. A high vigor and growth rate; and
  • 3. Yellow-green to green foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new cherry laurel plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, and foliage. The photographs are of a 4.5-year-old plant grown outdoors in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands and taken in May 2022. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of ‘JOPRU2’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the new growth.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of an individual leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘JOPRU2’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in The Netherlands. Data was collected on 4.5-year-old plants grown outdoors in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands in May 2022. The range of day temperatures was 14° C. to 24° C. and the range of night temperatures was 4° C. to 12° C. Plants were deeply pruned in late October 2020 and late October 2021. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 6^th edition (2015).

• Classification:
  • • Family.—Rosaceae.
    • Botanical.—Prunus laurocerasus.
    • Common.—Cherry laurel; English laurel.
    • Designation.—‘JOPRU2’.
• Plant:
  • • Type.—Perennial, evergreen shrub.
    • Time to produce a finished plant.—About 2 years from rooted cuttings to a sale-ready plant in a 2.5-liter container.
    • Appropriate container for producing a finished plant.—2.5-liter pots and larger or field-grown.
    • Plant shape.—Obovate.
    • Growth habit.—Broad upright.
    • Average plant height.—87.8 cm.
    • Average plant diameter.—85.3 cm.
    • Growth rate.—High.
    • Vigor.—High.
    • High temperature tolerance.—Unknown, but tolerant to temperatures up to 35° C.
    • Low temperature tolerance.—About −13° C., but at least hardy to USDA Zone 7.
    • Disease/pest resistance and susceptibility.—Similar to other P. laurocerasus varieties.
    • Tolerance to wind.—High.
• Branches:
  • • Habit.—Main stems grow from the base and near the base, with lateral branches.
    • Basal branching.—Present.
    • Pinching.—Not required but will improve branching.
    • Number of branches per plant.—15 primary or main branches and 8 secondary or lateral branches.
    • Branch length (both main and lateral).—Average is 18.5 cm.
    • Branch diameter (both main and lateral).—Average is 0.4 cm.
    • Internode length (both main and lateral).—Average is 2.3 cm.
    • Appearance and shape.—Slightly glossy; current year's lateral branches are angled and older branches are rounded.
    • Aspect.—Average angle of 45 degrees.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Color.—Immature: A blend of RHS 144A (Yellow-Green) and RHS 144B (Yellow-Green) and slightly tinged with RHS N170A (Greyed-Orange). Mature: RHS 143A (Green). Bark and older stems: A blend of RHS 197A (Greyed-Green) and RHS N199A (Greyed-Brown).
    • Internode color.—Slightly darker than RHS 143A (Green).
    • Pubescence.—Absent.
    • Lenticels.—General: Stems are sparsely covered with lenticels. Length: 0.2 mm. Diameter: 0.75 mm. Color: RHS 199C (Greyed-Brown) and RHS 199D (Greyed-Brown) on older stems and are RHS N199C (Greyed-Brown) on bark.
• Leaves:
  • • Arrangement and type.—Alternate, single.
    • Number of leaves per branch.—Average is 9.
    • Shape.—Broad elliptic to oblong.
    • Aspect.—Very slightly convex.
    • Apex.—Apiculate.
    • Base.—Rounded.
    • Margin.—Slightly revolute; entire or entire upper ⅓ part sparsely and very shallowly serrate.
    • Margin undulation.—None to very slight coarsely undulate; no lobing.
    • Length.—Average is 14.5 cm.
    • Width.—Average is 7.1 cm.
    • Texture (both upper and lower surface).—Smooth and glabrous; no pubescence; no rugosity.
    • Appearance.—Upper surface is moderately glossy and lower surface is matte to very slightly glossy.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144B (Yellow-Green). Lower surface: A blend of RHS 144A (Yellow-Green) and RHS 146A (Yellow-Green).
    • Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 175A (Greyed-Orange). Lower surface: RHS 175C (Greyed-Orange) and fading to RHS 175D (Greyed-Orange) towards the main vein. Mature: Upper surface: Slightly darker than a blend of RHS N137A (Green) and RHS 147A (Yellow-Green). Lower surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-green).
    • Petiole.—Length: Average is 0.75 cm. Diameter: Average is 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 144B (Yellow-Green) for the upper part and a blend of RHS 143A (Green) and RHS 144A (Yellow-Green) for the lower part. Texture: Smooth and glabrous. Appearance: Upper part is slightly glossy and lower part is moderately glossy. Strength: High.
    • Stipules.—General: Present on both sides of the petiole base; stipules drop off when the leaves mature. Shape: Lanceolate. Length: 1.4 cm. Width: 0.225 cm. Apex: Narrow acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Coarsely shallowly serrate. Color: Upper part is RHS 145A (Yellow-Green) to RHS 145B (Yellow-Green) and lower part is RHS 145B (Yellow-Green).
    • Glands.—General: Present at the base of each leaf and 1 gland on each side of the main vein; the presence of these glands is typical for P. laurocerasus varieties. Diameter: 0.8 mm. Color: RHS N199B (Grey-Brown) to RHS N199C (Grey-Brown).
    • Fragrance.—Typical of species.
• Flowers/seed/fruit: Not observed to date.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘JOPRU2’ can be distinguished between the commercial variety ‘Jong3’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,891) in Table 1.

TABLE 1
Comparison with Commercial Variety
	Characteristic	‘JOPRU2’	‘Jong3’
	Plant height	87.8 cm	72.0 cm
	Plant diameter	85.3 cm	74.5 cm

When ‘JOPRU2’ is compared to the un-named and unpatented Prunus laurocerasus female parent, the young shoots of ‘JOPRU2’ are red in color, while the young shoots of the female parent are light-green in color. Additionally, ‘JOPRU2’ has a broad upright habit, while the female parent has a wide and spreading habit.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Prunus laurocerasus plant designated ‘JOPRU2’ as illustrated and described herein.