Dogwood tree-Purple Glory variety

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Pink Flowering Dogwood, botanically known as Cornus florida is provided. The new variety exhibits a rapid upright growth habit and most nearly resembles the Sweetwater Red Flowering Dogwood (non-patented), but primarily is distinguished therefrom by the distinctive coloration of the foliage (as illustrated). The foliage initially is light purple and changes to dark purple as the leaves mature. Such foliage coloration substantially is retained throughout the growing season and into the fall even when grown in full sunlight. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The new and distinct variety of Pink Flowering Dogwood tree was discovered in 1966 while growing within a block of approximately 250,000 Cornus florida seedlings on the cultivated nursery property of the assignee located near McMinnville, Tenn. The seed which yielded the new variety was planted in 1965 and likely was obtained from either the Pink Flowering Dogwood variety or the Sweetwater Red Flowering Dogwood variety. Accordingly, the new variety is believed to be a chance seedling or mutation of unknown parentage which differs from all prior known dogwood varieties of which I am aware. At the time of my discovery my attention was attracted to a single plant in the seedling block which was significantly different in appearance from all other plants in the block because of its unusual purple leaf coloration. Steps were taken by me carefully to preserve and to continue to observe this unusual seedling. Asexual reproduction by buddings at the nursery of the assignee beginning in 1968 confirmed that the distinctive appearance of the new variety comes true and is established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The new and distinct variety of dogwood tree has been named the Purple Glory variety.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of Pink Flowering Dogwood tree, botanically known as Cornus florida, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of (1) a rapid upright growth habit, (2) distinctive leaf coloration which initially is light purple changing to dark purple as the leaves mature, and (3) the ability substantially to retain said purple leaf coloration throughout the growing season and into the fall even when the tree is grown in full sunlight.