Patent Publication Number: US-PP21833-P2

Title: Sedum plant named ‘Thundercloud’

Description:
Latin name:  Sedum  hybrid. 
     Cultivar name: ‘Thundercloud’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid of  Sedum  plant named ‘Thundercloud’ characterized by pointed or fingered foliage, white 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 unknown  Sedum tatranowii , not patented, in Hebron, Ill. in 2005. The selection of the new plant was due to its&#39; larger pointed foliage, larger white flowers and a taller height compared to the seed parent. Initial asexual reproduction has taken place at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. since 2006 by means of division, and vegetative cuttings. The new  Sedum  has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction to the parent after rooting over 1900 plants from 2006 to 2009. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The new  Sedum  plant named ‘Thundercloud’ characterized by pointed foliage, white 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  ‘Stardust’ not patented.
         1. The new  Sedum  plant is a hybrid and does not produce seed while  Sedum spectabile  ‘Stardust’ is fertile and produces seed.   2. The new  Sedum  plant has a mature size measuring 25-30 cm high and 40-45 cm wide while  Sedum spectabile  ‘Stardust’ measures 45-55 cm high and 55-65 cm wide.   3. The new  Sedum  has white flowers with a hint of pink in them while  Sedum spectabile  ‘Stardust’ is entirely white.       

     Plants of the new  Sedum  can also be compared to the seed parent plant  Sedum tatranowii , 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 of 25-30 cm high and 40-45cm wide 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 5-6 cm long while the seed parent has foliage measuring 6 mm across by 2 cm long.   4. The new  Sedum  has a stem thickness of 5-8 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 May. 
     
    
    
     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 Thundercloud.   Parentage: Male or pollen unknown and female or seed an open pollinated, unknown  Sedum tatranowii.      Propagation: Vegetative division and cutting propagation.   Plant description: Overall habit of the new  Sedum  is basal clumps, with upright stems topped by white flowers in August.
             Plant height.— Average 25-30 cm.     Plant width.— 40-45 cm.     Stem color.— 144 A.     Stem length.— 30 cm.     Stem diameter.— 5-8 mm.       
       Foliage:
             Type.— Deciduous.     Shape.— Obovate.     Petiole.— None.     Length.— 5-6 cm.     Width.— 2 cm.     Thickness.— 1-2 mm.     Margin.— Coarsely and irregularly toothed.     Texture.— Smooth.     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 B.     Abaxial leaf description.— Color is 137 D.     Fall foliage color.— None noticed.       
       Flower:
             Petal count.— 5.     Petal shape.— Lanceolate.     Adaxial petal color.— 157 A.     Abaxial petal color.— 154 C.     Petal apex shape.— Acuminate.     Petal base.— 2-3 mm wide.     Petal length.— 7 mm.     Petal width.— 3 mm.     Flower type.— Panicle on basal flowering stems.     Panicle color.— As a whole the color is 155 A.     Flower size.— 1 cm across, 5 mm tall.     Flower number.— Approximately 150-180 per stem.     Bloom period and duration.— Mid August to Mid September.     Sepal size.— 1 mm across, 2 mm tall.     Carpel color.— N 155 C.     Fertility.— Sterile, 5 anthers no pollen, 5 stamens. Anthers can appear dark in color as they do in the  FIG. 2 . of the drawings.     Blooming habit.— Domed, terminal panicle on up to 35 cm stems.     Scent.— No scent noticed.     Fruit.— None.     Disease resistance.— Resistance to diseases common to  Sedum  has not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions.