Patent Publication Number: US-PP29036-P2

Title: Sedum plant named ‘Rock Star’

Description:
Latin name:  Sedum  hybrid. 
     Cultivar name: ‘Rock Star’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid of  Sedum  plant named ‘Rock Star’ characterized by pointed or fingered foliage, pink flowers and a larger height compared to the seed parent. The new  Sedum  was raised as a seedling from open pollinated seed sown as an unnamed  Sedum tatarinowii , not patented, in Hebron, Ill. in 2013. The selection of the new plant was due to its&#39; larger pointed foliage, larger pink flowers and a taller height compared to the seed parent. Initial asexual reproduction has taken place at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. since 2014 by means of division, and vegetative stem cuttings. The new  Sedum  has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction to the parent after rooting over 700 plants from 2014 to 2015. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The new  Sedum  plant named ‘Rock Star’ characterized by pointed foliage, pink flowers and a larger height compared to the seed parent have been observed to be unique and stable. 
     Plants of the new  Sedum  can be compared to plants of  Sedum spectabile  ‘Neon’ not patented. 1. The new  Sedum  plant is a hybrid and does not produce seed while  Sedum spectabile  ‘Neon’ is fertile and produces seed. 2. The new  Sedum  plant has a mature size measuring 25 cm high and 45 cm wide while  Sedum spectabile  ‘Neon’ measures 45 cm high and 45 cm wide. 3. The new  Sedum  has pink flowers while  Sedum spectabile  ‘Neon’ has a deeper pink flower color. 
     Plants of the new  Sedum  can also be compared to the seed parent plant  Sedum tatarinowii , not patented. 1. The new plant is a hybrid and does not produce seed while the seed parent plant is fertile and produces viable seed. 2. The new  Sedum  has a mature size measuring 25 cm high and 45 cm while the seed parent has a mature size of 12 cm high and 30 cm wide. 3. The new  Sedum  has larger foliage measuring on average up to 2 cm across by 4 cm long while the seed parent has foliage measuring 6mm across by 2 cm long. 4. The new  Sedum  has a stem thickness of 9-10 mm while the seed parent has stem thickness of 2 mm. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS 
       Plants pictured in the drawing were grown for three years. 
         FIG. 1 . Close up of the foliage. 
         FIG. 2 . Close up of the flower. 
         FIG. 3 . A single plant in Spring. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). Plants used for the description were grown for three years. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Sedum  hybrid cultivar Rock Star.   Parentage: Male or pollen unknown and female or seed an open pollinated, unknown  Sedum tatarinowii.      Propagation: Vegetative division and stem cutting propagation.   Plant description: Overall habit of the new  Sedum  is basal clumps, with uptight stems topped by pink flowers in August and September.
             Plant height .—Average 25 cm.     Plant width.— 45 cm.     Stem color.— 152 B in spring and summer, maturing 199 A in September and 184 A near the flower.     Stem shape .—Both typical and observed — round.     Stem texture .—Glabrous.     Stem length.— 25 cm.     Stem diameter.— 9-10 mm.     Internode length.— 5 cm.       
       Foliage:
             Type .—Deciduous.     Shape .—Obovate.     Petiole .—None.     Length.— 4 cm and.     Width.— 2 cm.     Thickness.— 1-2 mm.     Margin .—Coarsely and irregularly toothed.     Leaf apex, typical and observed .—Obtuse.     Leaf bases, typical and observed .—Cuneate.     Texture .—Smooth on both the upper and lower surface.     Leaf arrangement .—Alternate, crowded except at the base of the stems.     Leaf venation pattern .—None noticed.     Leaf vein color .—None noticed.     Adaxial leaf description .—Color is 137 A.     Abaxial leaf description .—Color is 137 B.     Fall foliage color .—None noticed.       
       Flower:
             Petal count.— 5.     Petal shape .—Lanceolate.     Adaxial petal color.— 75 A.     Abaxial petal color .—Edged in pink 75 A, with some green 157 A in the center and some white 155 C too.     Petal apex shape .—Acuminate.     Petal base.— 3 mm wide.     Petal length.— 6 mm.     Petal width.— 3 mm.     Petal margin, typical and observed .—Entire.     Petal bases, typical and observed .—Obtuse.     Inflorescence type .—Panicle on basal flowering stems.     Panicle colors .—Petals 75 A and carpel N74 A.     Individual flower size.— 13 mm across, 6 mm tall.     Inflorescence length and width.— 10 cm.     Flower number .—Approximately 500 per stem.     Bloom period and duration .—Mid August to Mid September.     Bud shape, typical and observed .—Elliptical.     Bud length, typical and observed.— 4 mm.     Bud diameter, typical and observed.— 3 mm.     Bud colors, typical and observed .—N74 A at the tip, N74 C in the center, 150 D at the base.     Sepal size.— 1 mm across, 2 mm tall.     Sepal number.— 5.     Sepal shape, typical and observed .—Narrow ovate.     Sepal apex, typical and observed .—Acute.     Sepal margin, typical and observed .—Entire.     Sepal color, abaxial and adaxial typical and observed .—Close to 138 D.     Peduncle length, typical and observed.— 15 mm.     Peduncle diameter, typical and observed.— 1 mm.     Peduncle color, typical and observed .—Close to 139 A.     Pedicel length, typical and observed.— 2 mm.     Pedicel diameter, typical and observed.— 1 mm.     Pedicel color, typical and observed .—Close to 139 A.     Carpel color .—N74 A.     Carpel surfaces .—Glabrous.     Average number of carpels per individual flower.— 5.     Stigma shape .—Capitate.     Stigma size.— 2 mm.     Stigma color .—Close to N74 A.     Style length.— 1 mm.     Style shape .—Slender.     Style color .—N74 A.     Ovary size.— 1-2 mm.     Ovary shape .—Cordate.     Ovary color .—N74 A.     Fertility .—Sterile, 10 anthers no pollen, 10 stamens.     Anther color .—Close to N187 C.     Pollen color .—Close to 21 B.     Blooming habit .—Domed, terminal panicle on up to 25 cm stems.     Scent .—No scent noticed.     Fruit .—None.     Hardiness .—U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 4-9.     Disease resistance .—Resistance to  Rhizoctonia  a fungus disease common to  Sedum  has been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions.     Pest resistance .—Resistance to pests common to  Sedum  has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions.