Lesdasma

Cedar

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Smaragd'

Summary: The plants of 'Lesdasma' have medium to dense foliage whereas the plants of 'Smaragd' have very dense foliage. In spring, the main colour of the outer side of the current year leaf on the outermost branch of 'Lesdasma' is darker green than the outer side of the leaf of 'Smaragd'. In summer, the main colour of the outer side of the current year leaf on the outermost branch of 'Lesdasma' is dark green whereas the outer side of the leaf of 'Smaragd' is light green. In summer, the main colour of the inner side of the current year leaf on the outermost branch of 'Lesdasma' is brown green whereas the inner side of the leaf of 'Smaragd' is lighter brown green. In winter, the main colour of the outer side of the current year leaf on the outermost branch of 'Lesdasma' is green brown to brown green whereas the outer side of the leaf of 'Smaragd' is lighter brown green. In winter, the main colour of the inner side of the current year leaf on the outermost branch of 'Lesdasma' is brown green whereas the inner side of the leaf of 'Smaragd' is lighter brown green.

Description:

SHRUB: narrow columnar to columnar growth habit, very slow to slow rate of growth, medium to dense foliage, fragrant

BRANCH: dense, erect to semi-erect attitude, medium to strong stiffness, dark brown to grey brown (RHS N199B-C) when young, dark brown (RHS 200B) when aged
BRANCHLETS OF FIRST ORDER: many, dense, erect to semi-erect attitude of spray
SECONDARY BRANCHLET: vertical, dense, medium brown to light brown (RHS 166B-C) when young, grey brown (RHS N199C-D) when aged

LEAF: narrow acute apex, decussate arrangement around axis of branch, scale-like shape, non prominent glands
LEAF FROM OUTERMOST BRANCHES IN SPRING: outer side is mainly dark green to light green (RHS 144A-B), inner side is mainly dark green (RHS 144A), no variegation
LEAF FROM OUTERMOST BRANCHES IN SUMMER: outer side is mainly dark green (RHS 143A to 141A), inner side is mainly brown green (RHS NN137A-B), no variegation
LEAF FROM OUTERMOST BRANCHES IN WINTER: outer side is mainly green brown (RHS 152B) to brown green (RHS 146B), inner side is mainly brown green (RHS N146A-B), no variegation

Origin & Breeding History: 'Lesdasma' was discovered by the breeder as a whole plant mutation from a single plant of Thuja occidentalis variety 'Smaragd' in Bokholt-Hanredder, Germany in May 1998. After initial clone propagation and preliminary evaluation, the single plant was selected for its darker green foliage and its dense, slender conical shaped growth habit in September 2002. Further propagation and evaluation led to the introduction of the new variety as 'Lesdasma'.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'Lesdasma' was conducted as an outdoor container trial in 2016 and 2017 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 10 trees of the candidate variety and 12 trees of the reference variety. All trees were transplanted into 23 cm pots on May 1, 2016. The trial was arranged in rows with approximately 75 cm spacing between pots. Most observations and measurements were taken from 10 trees, or parts of trees, on October 14, 2016, while the winter colour determination was made on February 15, 2017 and the early spring colour determination was made on April 27, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Lesdasma' with reference variety 'Smaragd'

Leaf colour on outermost branches in spring (RHS)

Leaf colour on outermost branches in summer (RHS)

Leaf colour on outermost branches in winter (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Cedar: 'Lesdasma' (left) with reference variety 'Smaragd' (right)