Ilex plant named ‘FarrowSK6’

A new and distinct Ilex plant named ‘FarrowSK6’, characterized by its upright and narrowly pyramidal plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; small, glossy dark green-colored leaves; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinctIlexplant, botanically known asIlex crenataand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FarrowSK6’.

The newIlexplant originated from an open-pollination during the spring of 1999 ofIlex crenata‘Sky Pencil’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofIlex crenata,as the male, or pollen, parent. The newIlexplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor during the summer of 2002 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Earleville, Md.

Asexual reproduction of the newIlexplant by hardwood cuttings in Earleville, Md. since the autumn of 2002 has shown that the unique features of the newIlexplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newIlexhave not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FarrowSK6’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FarrowSK6’ as a new and distinctIlexplant:1. Upright and narrowly pyramidal plant habit.2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.3. Small, glossy dark green-colored leaves.4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the newIlexdiffer from plants of the female parent, ‘Sky Pencil’, in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newIlexare more pyramidal than and not as columnar as plants of ‘Sky Pencil’.2. Plants of the newIlexhave smaller and darker green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Sky Pencil’.

Plants of the newIlexcan be compared to the plants ofIlex crenata‘Farrowone’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,049. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the newIlexdiffered from plants of ‘Farrowone’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newIlexwere narrower than plants of ‘Farrowone’.2. Plants of the newIlexwere more freely branching than plants of ‘Farrowone’.3. Plants of the newIlexhad smaller and darker green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Farrowone’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in three-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. Plants were four years old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Ilex crenata‘FarrowSK6’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Ilex crenata‘Sky Pencil’, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection ofIlex crenata,not patented.Propagation:Type.—By hardwood cuttings.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 40 days at temperatures of 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four months at temperatures of 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and narrowly pyramidal plant habit; vigorous growth habit.Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant.Plant height.—About 150 cm.Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 30 cm.Lateral branch description.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A.Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Mostly entire to slightly crenate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous; glossy. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petioles: Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 0.75 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been observed on plants of the newIlex.Garden performance: Plants of the newIlexhave been observed to have good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 30° C.Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toIlex.