Juniper RLH-SS1PI Cultivar Flexible Branches and Color Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a new cultivar of Juniperus silicicola that exhibits a compact, upright growth form with flexible branches and maintains bluish green foliage throughout the seasons, offering improved landscape performance and resistance to environmental variations.

Innovation Solution

The development of the 'RLH-SS1PI' cultivar, resulting from a planned breeding program, which features a compact and upright narrowly pyramidal plant form, freely branching habit, flexible lateral branches, and bluish green leaves, achieved through asexual reproduction using semi-hardwood and hardwood stem cuttings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If Juniperus silicicola is bred for compact upright growth form, then plant form is improved, but growth rate may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant formVSAvoidgrowth rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program modified growth parameters by selecting for compact upright habit while maintaining adequate growth rate through controlled environmental conditions and propagation methods during the 1995-2000 development period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If lateral branches are made flexible to resist breakage, then strength is improved, but branching density may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebranch flexibilityVSAvoidbranching density

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar exhibits differentiated branch properties where lateral branches possess enhanced flexibility and elasticity compared to the main stem, allowing localized adaptation to mechanical stress while maintaining overall dense branching architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If leaves maintain consistent bluish green color throughout seasons, then appearance stability is improved, but color variation response to environment is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor consistencyVSAvoidenvironmental response

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar maintains relatively stable leaf color parameters (bluish green hue) across seasonal variations through genetic selection, while still exhibiting subtle adaptive responses to extreme environmental conditions such as winter freezing temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If minimal pruning is required to maintain dense bushy appearance, then ease of operation is improved, but plant form control precision may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepruning requirementsVSAvoidform control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar exhibits self-maintaining dense bushy form through its inherent freely branching growth habit and compact architecture, requiring minimal external intervention (pruning) to preserve its aesthetic form while still allowing occasional shaping when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUSPP30017P2Juniper plant named ‘RLH-SS1PI’

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 HEADS SELECT

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Juniper plant named ‘RLH-SS1PI’, characterized by its relatively compact and upright narrowly pyramidal plant form; freely branching habit requiring minimal pruning; dense and bushy appearance; lateral branches that are flexible and resist breakage and splitting; leaves that maintain their bluish green color throughout the seasons; and good landscape performance.