Thuja Cultivar With Fastigiate Compact Habit and Dark Green Foliage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cultivars of Thuja occidentalis lack a strongly fastigiate and compact plant habit with dark green foliage, making them less desirable for specific landscape applications.

Innovation Solution

A new cultivar, 'GK01', exhibiting a strongly fastigiate and compact plant habit with dark green foliage, is developed through asexual propagation by stem cuttings, distinguishing it from other cultivars like 'Thucavlo' and 'King of Brabant'.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If existing Thuja cultivars are used, then they are available for landscape use, but they lack a strongly fastigiate and compact plant habit with dark green foliage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant habitVSAvoidsuitability for specific landscape applications

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a natural mutation that exhibits distinct morphological parameters (fastigiate growth pattern, compact habit, dark green foliage color) different from the parent Thuja 'Smaragd' cultivar. This creates a new cultivar with optimized shape parameters for specific landscape applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by preserving and propagating specific localized characteristics (the fastigiate branching pattern and dark green foliage) while maintaining the overall Thuja plant structure. The mutation affects specific parts of the plant (branching architecture and leaf color) rather than the entire plant morphology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If a new cultivar with distinct characteristics is developed, then it provides unique landscape value, but it requires asexual propagation to ensure stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephenotype stabilityVSAvoidpropagation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by using the plant's own vegetative reproduction capability (asexual propagation through stem cuttings) to maintain genetic and phenotypic stability. The plant propagates itself without requiring sexual reproduction, ensuring that the distinctive fastigiate habit and dark green foliage are faithfully reproduced in all offspring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If Thuja 'Smaragd' is used as parent plant, then it provides a good base cultivar, but it has less compact habit and lighter green foliage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage densityVSAvoidfoliage color

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting a natural mutation that exhibits altered parameters compared to the parent Thuja 'Smaragd'. Specifically, the mutation produces darker green foliage color and a more compact, fastigiate shape, creating a distinct cultivar with optimized visual characteristics for landscape use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP37231P2<i>Thuja </i>plant named ‘GK01’

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 VAN VLIET NEW PLANTS

AI summary

A new cultivar of Thuja plant named ‘GK01’ that is characterized by its strongly fastigiate and compact plant habit and its dark green foliage.