Japanese <i>Zelkova </i>tree named ‘JFS KW4ZS’

Abstract

A variety of Zelkova serrata with a combination of an upright branching vase shaped semi compact tree form with dark green foliage and orange to orange red fall color.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Zelkova tree named ‘JFS KW4ZS’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting conditions and, therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.

(2) FIG. 1: Shows the branch structure of the tree at 10 years of age just before bud break.

(3) FIG. 2: Shows new foliage and staminate flowers on a display board.

(4) FIG. 3: Shows new foliage, staminate and pistillate flowers on a display board with scale.

(5) FIG. 4: Shows a close up of staminate flowers on a display board with scale.

(6) FIG. 5: Shows a close up of pistillate flowers on shoot tips with scale.

(7) FIG. 6: Shows summer foliage on 2 year old trees.

(8) FIG. 7: Shows summer foliage & branch angles on 2 year old trees.

(9) FIG. 8: Shows a nursery production row of 2 year old trees.

(10) FIG. 9: Shows a nursery production row of 3 year old trees.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(11) The following detailed description of the ‘JFS KW4ZS’ variety is based on observations of a 10 year old tree growing in Boring, Oreg. and of two and three year old asexually reproduced progeny. The observed progeny were trees which were growing in Boring, Oreg. & Canby, Oreg. Color descriptions are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart © 1986, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. Scientific name: Zelkova serrata ‘JFS KW4ZS’. Parentage: Seed parent.—An unknown tree of the species Zelkova serrata. Pollen parent.—Open pollinated by an unknown tree of the species Zelkova serrata. Tree: Overall shape.—Upright vase. Height.—At 10 years of age, about 7.5 meters high. Width.—At 10 years of age 5 meters spread. Caliper (trunk diameter).—At 10 years of age, about 170 mm at 100 mm height, 145 mm at 1 m height. Trunk.—Strong and straight. Trunk bark texture.—Smooth. Trunk bark color.—Greyed Green 197A. Immature bark color.—Grey Brown 199B. Mature bark color.—Greyed Green 197C. Lenticels.—Absent in main trunk and older branches. Branch color.—Greyed Brown 197C. Branch lenticels.—Greyed Orange 167B, 1 mm long by 0.5 mm wide on younger branches. Dormant buds.—Brown 200D, 1-2 mm long by 0.5 mm-1 mm wide: acute with overlapping scales. Internodes.—Average internode length is about 35 mm-50 mm on one-year old shoots. Hardiness.—Has tolerated temperatures to 10° F. in Canby, Oreg. which is the lowest temperature experienced at this location for this period. It is believed to have zone 5 cold hardiness similar to other plants of the same species. Leaves: Except as otherwise noted, observations are from twenty vigorous growth leaves. Arrangement.—Alternate. Type.—Simple, entire. Texture.—Smooth but directionally oriented pubescence can give the leaf a rough feel on the upper surface. Sheen.—Glossy when leaves first emerge but then dull on upper surface matte on the lower surface. Length.—Averaging 70 mm-110 mm. Width.—Averaging 35 mm to 45 mm. Petioles.—4 mm to 5 mm long, about 1 mm-2 mm in diameter, color Yellow-Green 151B. Overall shape.—Long ovate. Margin.—Serrate. Tip.—Acuminate. Base.—Subcordate. Spring leaf color.—Yellow Green between 149A to 145A. Summer leaf color.—Upper leaf surface: Green 137A. Lower leaf surface: Yellow Green 146B. Vein: Yellow Green 153A. Fall leaf color.—Foliage turns to Greyed Orange between 168A to 172A. Fall color begins.—October 25th (Boring, Oreg. 2021). Fall color peak.—November 15st (Boring, Oreg. 2021). Fall color ends.—November 30th (Boring, Oreg. 2021). Pubescence.—Yes on the upper surface. Persistence.—Tree is deciduous. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Flowers: Overall.—Monoecious, separate staminate & pistillate flowers emerge with the new leaves in the leaf axils on new shoots in the spring. The flowers are inconspicuous and are of no ornamental value. Size.—Staminate flowers are 4 mm-5 mm in diameter emerging in the leaf axils of the lower leaves. The pistillate flowers are solitary, sessile in the upper leaf axils and are 1 mm-1.5 mm in diameter. Unopened bud.—Yellow-Green 144B-144C. Stamens.—About 10 to 12 stamens, 2 mm to 4 mm. Anthers.—Yellow Green 146A 0.25 mm in diameter. Pistil.—Orange White 159D. Pollen.—Yellow 11B. Flowering date.—In Boring, Oreg. 2021 (an average bloom year). First blooms April 15th, peak bloom April 25th, last bloom May 5th. Fruit: Observations are from a sampling of typical seeds. Type.—Dried drupe, ovate, wingless. Size.—Typical fruit is 3 mm to 4 mm in length by 2 mm to 3 mm wide. Color.—Immature fruit is Green 143A. Seeds.—Typically 1 per fruit, ovate 2 mm to 3 mm long by 1 mm to 2 mm wide. Seed color.—Mature seed is Greyed Brown 199B. Pest/disease resistance: ‘JFS KW4ZS’ exhibits no greater or lesser degree of pest or disease resistance or susceptibility when compared to other Zelkova serrata cultivars such as ‘JFS-KW1’ ‘Green Vase’, and ‘Musashino’

COMPARISON TO THE SEED PARENT

(12) Compared to a typical Zelkova serrata tree, ‘JFS KW4ZS’ develops into a more compact, smaller tree with a symmetrical, more upright branch structure.

(13) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR VARIETIES: Zelkova serrata Zelkova serrata ‘JFS-KW1’ ‘Green Vase’ Zelkova serrata U.S. Plant Pat. U.S. Plant Pat. ‘JFS KW4ZS’ No. 20,996 No. 5,080 Relative size Height 7.5 m Height 3.5 m Height 10 m at 10 years Spread 5.0 m Spread 2.7 m Spread 6.5 m Old Form Compact upright Compact oval to Vase shaped, vase vase arching upright branches Summer Green 137A Green 139A Green 136A Upper Leaf Color Summer Yellow-Green Yellow-Green Yellow-Green Lower Leaf 146B 147A-147B 144A Color Leaf 4 mm to 5 mm 3 mm 4 mm to 6 mm Petiole length Typical 35 mm to 50 mm 12 mm to 29 mm 45 mm-60 mm Internode Length Fall Color Greyed-Orange Yellow 11A to Greyed-Orange between 168A to Yellow-orange 170A 172A 22A. Branching Upright, then Dense, stiff, more Long, slender, moderately vase spreading, finely lax and arching shaped, sturdy, branched symmetrical Branch 30 to 35 degrees 45 to 50 degrees 35 to 40 degrees angles on the main stem on 2 YR old trees