Abstract:
A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a nearly continuous basis attractive semi-double cup-like fragrant ivory-white blossoms that self clean well. A spreading ground cover growth habit is displayed. Forms glossy medium-green foliage that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The resistance to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust is excellent. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing ornamentation in small areas. It performs well as a mass planting and when grown in containers.

Description:
Botanical/commercial classification:  Rosa hybrida /Shrub Rose Plant. 
   Varietal denomination: cv. Meijeunom. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The new variety of  Rosa hybrida  shrub rose plant of the present invention was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was ‘The Fairy’ variety (non-patented in the United States). Such female parent was formed by the cross of the ‘Paul Crampel’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Lady Gay’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was an unnamed seedling (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:
 
‘The Fairy’×Unnamed Seedling.
 
   The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety. 
   It was found that the new Shrub Rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:
         (a) abundantly forms in clusters on a nearly continuous basis attractive semi-double cup-like fragrant ivory-white blossoms that self clean well,   (b) exhibits a spreading ground cover growth habit,   (c) forms glossy medium green foliage that contrasts well with the blossom coloration,   (d) develops well following asexual reproduction,   (e) is highly resistant to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust; and   (f) is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation as a mass planting and when grown in containers.       

   The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings where attractive ornamentation is desired. It is particularly well suited for growing in small areas. 
   The new variety of the present invention also can be readily distinguished from other rose varieties. For instance, ‘The Fairy’ female parent forms dissimilarly colored light pink blossoms and displays a taller growth habit. The ‘Meipadan’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,487) displays a similar growth habit and also forms white blossoms; however, unlike the new variety, this comparative variety forms much larger blossoms that possess single petalage. The ‘Meidarin’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,291) also displays a similar growth habit, combined with less hardiness, and the formation of vibrant orange blossoms. 
   The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Waso, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible by asexual propagation, such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces true to type by such asexual propagation. Good plant development has been observed regardless of the mode of asexual propagation. 
   The new variety has been named ‘Meijeunom’, and is being marketed under the IVORY DRIFT trademark. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying photographs shown, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustrations of this character, a typical flowering plant of the new variety. The illustrated rose plant of the new variety was approximately three years of age and was observed during June, 2006 while growing outdoors on ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. 
       FIG. 1  shows the typical flowering specimen of the new variety wherein the compact spreading ground cover growth habit is illustrated. 
       FIG. 2  shows a close view of the attractive ivory-white blossoms in various stages of opening, as well as the foliage of the new variety. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. The description is based on the observation of three-year-old specimens of the new variety during June 2006 while growing outdoors on ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.
     Class: Landscape Shrub.   Plant:
             Height.— Approximately 30 to 45 cm on average at the end of the growing season.     Width.— Approximately 55 to 65 cm on average at the end of the growing season.     Habit.— Low rounded mound.       
       Branches:
             Color.— Young stems: Yellow-Green Group 144C with highlights of Red Group 53C. Adult wood: Yellow-Green Group 144A.     Thorns.— Size: approximately 1 cm in length from base to point on average. Configuration: commonly sharply pointed with the tip nearly perpendicular to the stem and pointing upward. Quantity: typically approximately 4 to 5 over a stem length of 10 cm. Color: near Yellow-Green Group 151A on young stems and near Brown Group 200D on mature wood and more glaucous.       
       Leaves:
             Length.— Varies widely with number of leaflets, for a five-leaflet leaf approximately 7 to 8 cm including the petiole on average, and for a seven-leaflet leaf approximately 9 to 10 cm including the petiole on average.     Width.— For a five-leaflet leaf approximately 4.5 to 5 cm on average at the widest point, and for a seven-leaflet leaf approximately 7 to 7.5 cm on average at the widest point.     Leaflets.— Number: 3 (rarely), 5 (more commonly), 7 (more typically), and 9 (rarely). Arrangement: alternate and pinnate. Shape: typically elliptical to broadly elliptical, with an attenuate base, and commonly with a broadly acute to rounded tip. Margins: serrulate. Texture: glabrous on the upper and under surfaces and papyraceous. Overall appearance: small, dense, medium green in coloration, and glossy. Color (young foliage): upper surface; near Green Group 137A. under surface: near Green Group 138A with some darkening to Green Group 137C. Color (adult foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 139A. under surface: near Green Group 138with some lightening to Green Group 137C.     Petioles.— Length: approximately 20 mm on average. Diameter: approximately 1.4 mm on average. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144C.     Stipules.— Length: approximately 20 mm on average. Width: approximately 8 mm on average. Color: near Yellow-Green Group 144C towards the middle, and near Green Group 137A at the edges.       
       Inflorescence:
             Number of flowers.— Commonly 10 to 15 per stem in a cluster.     Peduncle.— Approximately 15 to 20 mm in length on average, and approximately 1.5 to 2 mm in diameter on average.     Sepals.— Typically five in number, approximately 7 to 11 mm in length on average, approximately 6 mm in width on average, near Yellow-Green Group 144B on the inner and outer surfaces, and with a few generally lanceolate-shaped foliaceous extensions at the edges which commonly are approximately 7 to 11 mm in length and approximately 2.5 to 4.5 mm in width.     Buds.— Shape: Ovoid. Size: very small, and approximately 1 cm in length and width on average as the calyx breaks. Color: as the bud cracks the petals are Yellow Group 13C on the upper and under surfaces.     Flower.— Form: semi-double. Shape: cup-like when fully open. Diameter: approximately 4 to 4.5 cm on average when fully open. Color newly opened: upper surface: Yellow Group 4D at the apex and Yellow Group 4A towards the base. under surface: Yellow Group 4D at the apex and Yellow Group 4A towards the base. Color fully opened: upper surface: near Yellow Group 11D with a small amount of Yellow Group 11A at the base. under surface: primarily near Yellow Group 11D. Color stability: there is a considerable change in coloration from the time of first opening to petal drop. Fragrance: slight and fruity. Petal shape: obovate to narrowly obovate to narrowly obcordate. Petal number: commonly approximately 22 to 26 on average under normal growing conditions. Petaloids: commonly 1 to 3 per blossom, irregularly shaped, approximately 20 mm in length, and approximately 8 mm in width. Petal texture: glabrous, membranaceus, relatively thin, and semi-transparent. Petal margin: entire, and tends to be slightly revolate. Petal apex: obtuse. Petal base: narrowly cuneate. Petal size: commonly approximately 2 to 2.5 cm in length on average, and approximately 2.3 to 2.5 mm in width on average. Petal drop: very good with the petals detaching cleanly and freely before drying. Stamen number: approximately 55 to 60 on average. Filaments: typically approximately 6 mm in length, and approximately 1 mm in diameter. Pollen: present and near Yellow-Orange Group 22A in coloration. Pistils: approximately 30 on average. Styles: approximately 3 mm in length on average, and approximately 1 mm in width on average. Receptacle: slightly glaucous, commonly approximately 2.5 to 2.8 mm in size when the flower is completely open, and near Green Group 138A in coloration. Hips: rarely observed. Lasting quality: commonly approximately 7 to 8 days on the plant, and approximately 5 to 6 days when cut and placed in a vase.       
       Development:
             Vegetation.— Vigorous and procumbent thin branches with upright thin shoots and a generally restrained growth.     Blossoming.— Abundant and substantially continuous.     Resistance to diseases.— Excellent with respect to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust.     Formation of hips/seeds.— Sparsely formed.     Hardiness.— Proven hardy in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 5.     Heat tolerance.— Testing is underway.