A new cultivar of Prunus laurocerasus plant named ‘Frerichs 01’ that is characterized by its vigorous growth habit, its narrowly upright plant habit, its dense branching, and its young foliage that is intense bronze to orange in color.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a European plant breeders' rights application filed on Dec. 24, 2021, application No. 2021/3454. The information for the Plant Breeders' Right Application was directly received from the Inventors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Prunus laurocerasus and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Frerichs 01’. ‘Frerichs 01’ is a new cultivar of English laurel grown for use as a landscape plant and particularly useful as a hedge plant.

The new cultivar was discovered by one of the Inventors in June of 2018 as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’ (not patented) growing outdoors in a nursery production field in Westerstede/Hoheliet, Germany.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by the Inventors in Westerstede/Hoheliet, Germany in June 2018. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Frerichs 01’ as a unique cultivar of English laurel.

The female parent of ‘Frerichs 01’ differs from ‘Frerichs 01’ in having young foliage that is green in color and in being less densely branched. ‘Frerichs 01’ can be most closely compared to the Prunus cultivars ‘Anbri’ (not patented) and ‘Chamaeleon’ (not patented). ‘Anbri’ is similar to ‘Frerichs 01’ in having young foliage shoots that are bronze to orange in color. ‘Anbri’ differs from ‘Frerichs 01’ in having a broader plant shape, a less vigorous growth habit, and leaves that are shorter and broader. ‘Chamaeleon’ is similar to ‘Frerichs 01’ in having an upright growth habit. ‘Chamaeleon’ differs from ‘Frerichs 01’ in having a broader plant habit, a less vigorous growth habit, leaf apices that are more round in shape, young foliage shoots that are less intensely bronze-orange in color, and less winter hardiness.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTORS

The Applicants assert that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicants claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/or sales that fall within a one-year grace period prior to the filing date. Disclosures include website listings by Van Vliet New Plants an Plantago.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Prunus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 36-month-old trees as grown outdoors in a 28-cm container in Achtmaal, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 6th edition (2019 reprint) Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.