Dec. 25, 1962 J. G. STROPKEY Pat. 2,204 LILAC BUSH Filed Jan. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet

N V E N O R. John G. ST RoPKEY by Y-4 ow A T ng S. Dec. 25, 1962 J. G., STROPKEY Plant Pat. 2,204 LILAC BUSH Filed Jan. 3, 1961 2. Sheets-Sheet 2

INVENTOR: JOHN G, STROPKEY BY Y-4.e.-- ATT'YS Plant Pat. 2,204 United States Patent Office Patented Dec. 25, 1962 1. 2 2,204 Classification: hybrid. LLAC BUSH Form: Bush. John G. Stropkey, 485. Bowhall Road, Painesville, Ohio Height: 4 to 5 feet, after two years of growth. Filed Jan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 80,509 Growth: Vigorous, fast growing young shoots during 1 Claim. (C. 47-60) first two years, slow growing thereafter. Branching during second year. Sturdy and upright until begin This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of ning to bloom and then bloom canes bend or droop Syringa josikaea plant which occurred as a seedling re over and thus appear to weep. Sulting from a cross, made at my nurseries at Painesville, Foliage: Abundant. Ohio, between an unknown pollen parent and a 0 Size of .-Varying-2 to 6 inches in length. parent of a conventional, unpatented, josikaea variety. Shape.--Lanceolate and oblong, cuspidate tip-and My new variety is the result of breeding efforts carried wavy margins. on by me and my associates for many years at Painesville, Texture.--Smooth. Glossy when young. Ohio, with the objective of producing a lilac plant having Color-Older leaf: upper side-green center bor a more attractive appearance after blooming and which 15 dered with yellow, cream colored margins; under would retain its attractiveness throughout the period that side-same as upper side, but with less pro its foliage. would remain on the plant. Because of their nounced contrast and of a lighter, greyish cast. attractiveness while in bloom, lilac have enjoyed Young : upper side-green central portion a long popularity. However, after blooming their with light green margins; under side-similar to decorative characteristic is gone and all that remains 20 upper side but with a greyish cast. is a rather ordinary leafy bush. For that reason I have Petioles.-Length; about one-half inch. sought to produce a lilac plant which would have a dis Ribs and veins.--Smooth, protruding from under tinctive and decorative foliage and which would retain its side surface of leaf. . . attractiveness long after the blooms had disappeared and Rachis.--Smooth and strong. Plainly protruding. until the foliage dried. This objective, I believe, has been 25 accomplished in the new variety herein disclosed, which Bud was discovered by me at my nursery in 1954. My new variety is distinguished by its variegated Size: Very much like josikaea. foliage, the leaves of a two-year and older plant having Form: Ovoid and pointed. Opens slowly. a green central portion which fades marginally into a 30 Color: When sepals first divide; light green. When yellow color and then to an undulating creamy green sepals begin to unfurl; pink. or white border at the leaf margins. During the first Sepals: Branched, upstanding and curling back. Spear year of growth, after bud grafting, the leaves of my new shaped. Color: inside-whitish pink; outside-pink. variety do not have a pronounced variegation as above Calyx: Funnel-shaped. Does not split and has smooth, described, but rather ahve a medium green central por 35 glandular aspect. tion and light green margins. During the second year, Peduncle: Lengun; approximately one-fourth to one-half however, and as the plant grows older, the variegation inch. Erect and of green color. from green to yellow and white becomes sharply apparent and from then on the foliage retains its distinctive ap pearance and provides an attractive, decorative bush 40 throughout the summer and until the foliage dries, the Blooms: Profusely. Once in late spring. variegated leaves giving a flashing, constantly changing Borne: Singly. reflection, in light and shadow, as the leaves are rustled Size: Average size, full floret clusters approximately by the wind. 4 to 6 inches in length. I have asexually reproduced my new variety, by bud 45 Shape: Same as josikaea; flat form when bloom first grafting, in my nurseries at Painesville, Ohio, and its opens. Changing later to a cluster of more pointed novel characteristics have been found to hold true to form. form in succeeding generations of the new plant. Petalage: Same form as josikaea with clustered florets The accompanying drawing, in full color, illustrates each having 3 or 4 , some florets with two petals. the novel features of the foliage of the new plant, the 50 Petals stay on stem until dry and go to seed. upper figure showing the foliage of a five-year plant Color: Outer -pink; base-greenish white. In wherein the lower younger leaves have a light green center side petal-dainty, orchid pink tint over entire sur portion and greenish white margins which changes to a face. Reverse side-orchid. sharper contrast of green-yellow-white as the leaves de Peduncle: Length, one-half inch before terminal; sturdy velop. The lower figure of the illustration shows the and upright. Color, forest green. nature of the green to pale green variegation of the Discoloration: Turns to lilac pink after full bloom. leaves of the one-year plant. - Texture: Soft. The second sheet of drawings, in pen and ink, shows Fragrance: Very pronounced-typical lilac fragrance. a single shoot, partly broken away, as it grows from Persistence: Not affected by wet or hot weather, tends the root during the first two years to a height of about 60 to hang on and dry. three to four feet; and the same shoot as the flower Insect resistance: Good. Resistant to scale and borers, s support bends or droops during the first blooming sea as tested and observed in my nurseries at Painesville, son, the flower support arching from A to B in one sea Ohio, where such insects are present on other lilac son's growth and producing a crooked branching and varieties grown in the immediate area. weeping appearance to the plant. 65 Lasting quality: On plant-good. As cut flower-very A more detailed specification of my new lilac variety good. is as follows: Genital organs: Same as josikaea. However, ovaries Plant seem to be weaker than josikaea. Seedling: : Same as josikaea. Oblong shape, brown color at Seed parent-Josikaea (unpatented). 70 maturity, and about ten percent fertile. Pollen parent.-Unknown. The color of the variegated leaves of the new plant, 2,204 t 4. according to "A Dictionary of Color," by Maerz and The new variety, however, is particularly distinguished Paul, are as follows: by its very different, rather crooked, branching, which results from the drooping or weeping of its bloom canes; UPPER FIGURE and the distinctive coloring of its leaves. The new Plate Letter Num 5 variety is a slower growing plant, after the first few years, cer and for that reason is an excellent one for modern land scaping of ranch type homes. Its distinctively variegated Top of leaf: - leaves also provide a pleasing decorative effect lasting - Outer margin-creamy greenish white--- 9 B Inner border- yellow------9 L I throughout the entire spring and summer seasons. Center portion 0 Having thus described my new variety of lilac plant 300ll------18 L 6 to - I claim: greel ------20 L. 8 A new and distinct variety of Syringa plant, Substan Under side of leaf-margin-grey green...... 19 D 2 tially as herein shown and described, characterized par ticularly by its variegated foliage which during the second LOWER FOURE 15 year of growth, acquires a distinct yellow inner border Top side of leaf: surrounding a green central leaf area and a cream Outer margin-green.------i8 L. 5 colored outer margin bordering the entire leaf; the plant Center portion green.------20 L. 6 being further characterized by its more crooked branch to ing and its slower growth after attaining a height of green------20 L 8 20 about five feet, by the weeping effect of its bloom canes Underside of leaf-grey green.------19 D 2 after the are in full bloom, by its very fragrant flowers which are of a dainty pink color when first My new variety of lilac most nearly resembles Syringa opened, and which turn to a somewhat darker lilac pink josikaea, as far as the flowers are concerned. However, as the bloom ages; and by the fact that the foliage re at first glance or casual observance the plant, in some 25 tains its distinctive variegation throughout the entire forms, looks to be like Wiegela nana Variegated and in growing season. other forms somewhat like Cornus florida Variegated. No references cited.