A new and distinct cultivar of Cupressus plant named ‘RutCup1’, characterized by its wider form and similar heigh and growth rate to Cupressus arizonica var. glabra cultivars; glaucous, blue-green foliage; resistance to Passalora blight; and cold hardiness to about −30° C. in laboratory tests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCupressus, botanically know asCupressus arizonica, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘RutCup1’.

The newCupressus‘RutCup1’ is a product of open pollination of mixedCupressusspecies in Tifton, Ga. Open-pollinated seed was collected in Tifton, Ga. in 2002 on plant labelledC. himalaica(not patented). Seedlings were field planted in 2005 in Dearing, Ga., and cuttings of plant I-23 (row I, plant 23) were taken in fall 2008 and field planted in Tifton in fall 2009. The new cultivar ‘RutCup1’ was selected for glaucous foliage and absence of Passalora blight in container and field production. The selection was tested in the lab, and 2nd year wood was found to be cold hardy down to about −30° C.

Asexual reproduction of the newCupressus‘RutCup1’ using hardwood terminal cuttings was first performed in Tifton, Ga. in 2008, and asexual reproduction and evaluation was subsequently also conducted in Watkinsville and Dearing, Ga. Cuttings are placed under intermittent mist with bottom heat set at about 70° F. and treated with NAA at 8000 ppm. Observations of the resulting ‘RutCup1’ progeny have shown that the unique features of this newCupressus‘RutCup1’ are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The newCupressuscultivar ‘RutCup1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, water and fertility levels, soil types, and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique and distinguishing characteristics of the newCupressuscultivar named ‘RutCup1’. In combination, these traits set ‘RutCup1’ apart from all other existing varieties ofCupressusknown to the inventors.1. Attractive landscape form, wider than cultivars such as ‘Blue Ice’2. Glaucous, blue green foliage3. Similar growth rate to otherC. arizonicavar.glabracultivars4. Resistant to Passalora blight in container and field trials; and5. Second-year stems cold hardy (showed no damage) down to about −30° C. in laboratory tests

Plants of the newCupressuscan be compared to the most similar cultivarCupressus arizonica‘Blue Ice’ (unpatented) and differ from plants of the differ from ‘Blue Ice’ at least in that plants of the newCupressushave glaucous blue green foliage and an attractive form that is wider than ‘Blue Ice’ and similar cultivars. The blue green foliage color of ‘RutCup1’ (closest to RHS 136C) is greener than that of ‘Blue Ice’, which has a bluer tone (closest to RHS 133C). Female and male parent are unknown and unavailable for comparison.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown in Tifton, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety “RutCup1’.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5thedition published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used