USOOPP31437P2

( 12 ) United States Patent ( 10 ) Patent No.: US PP31,437 P2 Avent (45 ) Date of Patent: Feb. 11 , 2020

( 54 ) PLANT NAMED “ SILVER (52 ) U.S. CI. ANNIVERSARY ' USPC Plt./373 (58 ) Field of Classification Search (50 ) Latin Name: Yucca filamentosa x Yucca pallida USPC Plt./373 Varietal Denomination : Silver Anniversary See application file for complete search history . (71 ) Applicant: Tony Avent, Raleigh , NC (US ) Primary Examiner Susan McCormick Ewoldt Assistant Examiner - Karen M Redden ( 72 ) Inventor : Tony Avent, Raleigh , NC (US ) (74 ) Attorney , Agent, or Firm Barbara Campbell; ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer , the term of this Cochran Freund & Young LLC patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154 (b ) by 0 days . (57 ) ABSTRACT A new of Yucca plant named 'Silver Anniversary ' (21 ) Appl . No.: 16 /350,695 that is characterized by compact habit ,moderate plant vigor, production of multiple offsets , powder -blue colored foliage (22 ) Filed : Dec. 19 , 2018 which is hardy in USDA Zone 5b , and a tall consisting of burgundy stems and cream -white , is ( 51 ) Int . Ci. disclosed . ADIH 5/02 ( 2018.01) A01H 6/12 (2018.01 ) 2 Drawing Sheets

1 2 Genus and : Yucca filamentosa x Yucca pallida . variety named ' Silver Anniversary '. In combination , these Variety denomination : ' Silver Anniversary '. traits set ‘ Silver Anniversary ' apart from all other varieties of Yucca known to the inventor . “Silver Anniversary ' has not BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety 5 differences may be observed with variations in environmen of Yucca , commonly known as soapwort, which is grown for tal, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any use as an ornamental plant for planted containers or for variance in genotype : planting in the landscape . “Silver Anniversary ' is known 1. In its first year of growth , Silver Anniversary ' estab botanically as Yucca filamentosa x Yucca pallida and will be lishes a single stemless tight rosette of foliage . referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name “ Silver Anni 10 2. In successive years of growth , ‘Silver Anniversary ' versary ' . produces multiple offsets of rosetted foliage. ‘ Silver Anniversary’arose from a Yucca breeding program 3. The emerging and juvenile foliage of ‘ Silver Anniver commenced by the inventor in a nursery in Raleigh , N.C. in sary’exhibits gentle recurving which straightens as the 2013. The goals of the breeding program were to develop plant and foliage matures. novel varieties which grow and multiply rapidly while 15 4. The of ' Silver Anniversary ’ are powder- blue in maintaining a compact habit , and developing varieties with color. striking foliage color and cold -hardiness in zone 7b . ‘Silver 5. After four months in the ground (after planting a Anniversary ' was selected from a population of diverse well -rooted division ), ‘Silver Anniversary ' is 30 cm in seedlings which were raised from seed arising from the height and width . open - of two species of Yucca : the female parent, 20 6. After twelve months in the ground , ‘ Silver Anniver an unknown Yucca filamentosa , commonly known as sary ’ achieves 120 cm in height and 70 cm in width Adam's needle , and the male parent, an unknown Yucca (excluding the height of the inflorescence ). pallida , commonly known as pale Yucca . A single seedling , 7. “ Silver Anniversary produces its first designated ' Silver Anniversary ’, exhibited a combination of after one year of growth . greatly increased vigor, presumably arising from the more 25 8. The inflorescence of a mature plant of ‘ Silver Anni vigorous species Yucca filamentosa , with the attractive pow versary ' will extend 75 cm to 1 m above the foliage der -blue colored foliage of Yucca pallida . canopy. “ Silver Anniversary ' was first propagated in 2016 at a 9. The stems of the inflorescence of ‘ Silver Anniversary ' nursery Raleigh , N.C., using the method of division of are burgundy in color. underground stems. The inventor has observed that all 30 10. The flowers of the inflorescence of ' Silver Anniver asexually reproduced of ' Silver Anniversary ' have sary ' are bell - shaped and cream - white in color . remained stable and have reproduced true to type in suc 11. “Silver Anniversary ' is hardy in USDA Zones 5b to cessive generations of asexual reproduction via division of 10b . underground stems. 35 DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS SUMMARY The accompanying color photographs illustrate the over The following traits have been repeatedly observed and all appearance of the new Yucca variety named “ Silver represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Yucca Anniversary ' showing color as true as it is reasonably US PP31,437 P2 3 4 possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type . Both division . — Simple . drawings were made from photographs of an established Leaf arrangement. - Spirally arranged . in - ground plant growing at a nursery in Raleigh , N.C. Leaf apex . — Acuminate with apical spine . FIG . 1 depicts a one -year - old plant of ‘Silver Anniver Shape of apical spine.- Keel- shaped . sary ' . No flowers have been produced in the first growing 5 Color of apical spine. - RHS 167A . season . FIG . 2 depicts a close -up view of the inflorescence of Length of apical spine.- 4.0 mm to 14.0 mm . ‘ Silver Anniversary ' which was observed on a three -year -old Leaf base. — Truncate . in - ground plant. Venation pattern .—Parallel ; veins barely visible on Photographs were made using conventional techniques 10 either surface . and although and foliage color may appear different Leaf margins. — Entire; outermost edges appear white from actual color due to light reflectance, they are as or translucent . accurate as possible by conventional photography. Leaf attachment. Sheathing . 15 Leaf surfaces (both upper and lower ).— Scabrous . DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY Leaf pubescence.- None . The following is a detailed botanical description of the Leaf width (widest point, approximately halfway new Yucca cultivar named 'Silver Anniversary '. Data was between base and apex ).— 39.0 mm . compiled from plants grown outdoors in Raleigh , N.C. The 20 Leaf length . — Up to 69.0 cm . observed plants were 3 - years - old . All color determinations Leaf color (both surfaces ). — Close color match not are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The Royal found : between RHS 188D and RHS 122D . Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general Inflorescence : color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used . Bloom period. — May to June. Botanical and plant description : 25 Family. - . Inflorescence diameter. — 30.0 cm . Genus . — Yucca . Form . — Panicle . Species . --filamentosa x pallida . Flowers per panicle . — 350 to 450 . Common name.Soapwort . Inflorescence height, from ground level. – 1.7 m to 2.0 Use. Ornamental plant for use in planted containers or 30 m ; 60.0 cm to 70.0 cm for inflorescence only . in the landscape. Flower diameter. — 1.2 cm to 1.6 cm . Parentage . — Silver Anniversary ' arose as a selected seedling from a population of plants raised from seed Stem.Scape, borne above foliage and extending to resulting from the open -pollination of plants of the 111 cm to 134 cm height above foliage . Stem length . — 18 cm to 22 cm . two species Yucca filamentosa and Yucca pallida . 35 Habit.Compact , dome- shaped foliage canopy . Stem diameter. — 3 cm to 4 cm . Vigor. — Moderate overall plant growth (plant size ); Stem color. - Emerges light green , becomes (or ages to ) vigorous production of offsets . RHS 143C and RHS 144A . Plant dimensions (in - ground, excluding Flowers : inflorescence ) .— After four months, 30 cm in height 40 Arrangement. - Alternate and composed of 6 tepals . and width . After twelve months , 120 cm in height, 70 Type.Campanulate . cm in width . After three years, 1.5 m in height, 1 m in width . Tepal height or length.4.5 cm to 5.5 cm . Plant hardiness. — 5b to 10b . Tepal width . - 1.6 cm to 2 cm . Propagation . Division of underground stem or root 45 Tepal shape. Ovate . cuttings. Division of basal shoots in tissue culture. Tepal apex. — Acuminate . Root system . - Fine and fibrous . Tepal color . – Creamy white (RHS 155A ). Time to develop roots . — 2 months to full rooting in a quart container . Tepal texture . — Leathery . Crop time. — 2 months after planting a rooted division 50 Petal dimensions , color, texture if different. — No dif in a quart container; 6 months after planting a quart ference , all tepals. container into a 1 - gallon container. Fragrance. — Present, musty . Disease susceptibility and resistance. Susceptible to Lastingness of individual flower . — 1 to 4 days. Yucca Plant Bug , Halticotoma valida . Lastingness of inflorescence. — 20 to 30 days , with stalk Special growing considerations. — Silver Anniversary 55 persisting until next season . is adaptable but prefers well -drained soil and a Pedicel . — Absent ; flowers are sessile . full - sun to part -sun aspect. Reproductive organs: Drought /heat tolerance. — This variety withstands the Stamens. — 6 in number ; 1.6 mm to 1.8 mm in length ; hot and humid conditions of Raleigh , N.C. (zone 7b ) , color : white . and is tolerant of drought once established . 60 Stem . - None visible above ground ; “ Silver Anniver Anthers . — Small, globular; color: brown/ yellow . sary’is acaulescent. Pistils. — 3 . Foliage: Stigma. — White . Quantity of leaves. — Very numerous ; exceeds 250 on a Pollen quantity . Slight; color: Creamy white . 3 -year -old plant . 65 Fruit or capsules. - Dry dehiscent capsule . Leaf shape. Oblanceolate. Seed . - Papery, black . US PP31,437 P2 5 6

COMPARISON TO PARENTAL LINES TABLE 1 Silver Anniversary ’ may be compared with its parents as Comparison with Similar Variety follows. Whereas the female parent Yucca filamentosa has Trait green foliage , the foliage of ‘Silver Anniversary ' is powder ' Silver Anniversary ? * TUSZYUC001' blue in color . Whereas the male parent Yucca pallida and Plant height and 120 cm and 70.0 cm 35 cm and 35 cm “ Silver Anniversary ’ both bear powder blue foliage, plants of width (maturity ) ‘ Silver Anniversary ' exhibit greatly increased vigor. The variety which the inventor considers to most closely I claim : resemble ‘Silver Anniversary ' is ' TUSZYUC001' (U.S. 10 1. A new and distinct variety of Yucca plant named ' Silver Plant Pat . No. 29,025 ) and is distinguished from the com Anniversary ' as illustrated and described herein . mercial comparison in Table 1 . * * * * U.S. Patent Feb. 11. 2020 Sheet 1 of 2 US PP31,437 P2

N U.S. Patent Feb. 11, 2020 Sheet 2 of 2 US PP31,437 P2