Sedum plant named ‘Nonom’

Botanical classification: Sedum spurium.

Variety denomination: ‘Nonom’.

This application is co-pending with a U.S. Plant Patent Application filed by the same Inventor that pertain to a plant derived from the same species, but not the same parentage, the Application is entitled Sedum Plant Named ‘Nonogo’ (U. S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/200,657).

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sedum plant, botanically known as Sedum spurium ‘Nonom’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Nonom’. The new cultivar of Sedum is a hardy herbaceous perennial grown for use as a landscape and container plant and is particularly suitable as a groundcover.

‘Nonom’ was discovered in March of 2008 as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation at the Inventor's nursery in Nunica, Mich. that was found growing in a field amongst 50,000 mature plants of unnamed plants of Sedum spurium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in June of 2008 in Nunica, Mich. Propagation by cuttings and crown division has determined the characteristics to be stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Nonom’ as a unique cultivar of Sedum.

1. ‘Nonom’ exhibits glossy foliage that emerges yellow-green in color and remains yellow-green until fall leaf drop. 2. ‘Nonom’ exhibits flower buds that are red-purple in color. 3. ‘Nonom’ exhibits flat-topped, rounded inflorescences with flowers that are pink in color and present in early summer. 4. ‘Nonom’ exhibits a dense, low growing habit with foliage that reaches about 5 inches in height.

The exact parent plant is unknown, however the plants in the field block Sedum spurium in which ‘Nonom’ was discovered had foliage that is mid-green in color. ‘Nonom’ can be compared most closely compared a cultivar from the same Inventor; ‘Nonogo’, which differs in having leaves that emerge red-purple in color and holds this color until fall leaf drop and in having pink flower buds. ‘Nonom’ can be compared to the following cultivars of Sedum spurium (all unpatented); ‘Bronze Carpet’ differs in having variable green/maroon leaves and deep pink flowers, ‘Coccineum’ differs in having green leaves and red flowers, ‘Elizabeth’ differs in having variable green or maroon leaves and pink flowers, ‘Fuldaglut’ differs in having maroon leaves and pink flowers, ‘Red Carpet’ differs in having red leaves and pink flowers, ‘Royal Pink’ and ‘Summer Glory’ differ in having green leaves and pink flowers, and ‘Tricolor’ differs in having leaves that are green with white edges and pink flowers.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Sedum . The photograph was taken of a 2 year-old plants of ‘Nonom’ as grown in the ground in full sun in Nunica, Mich.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates the unique foliage coloration of ‘Nonom’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Sedum.

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed on 2 year-old plants of ‘Nonogo’ as grown in the ground in full sun in Nunica, Mich. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

General description:

Blooming period. —The last two to three weeks of June to the first or second week of July in Michigan. Plant habit. —Herbaceous perennial, dense, low growing habit, mature plant sprawl from central crown with procumbent stems rooting as they contact the ground. Height and spread. —Reaches about 5 inches in height (foliage) 11 inches in bloom, maximum spread is about 2 feet. Hardiness. —Reliably in U.S.D.A. Zones 4B to 7B. Disease and pests. —No susceptibility or resistance to diseases or pests has been observed. Propagation. —Stem cuttings spring through summer and crown division throughout the year. Roots. —Fibrous. Growth rate. —Moderate.

Stem description:

Stem shape. —Round. Stem size.— 8 to 10 inches in length and about ⅛ inch in width. Internode length. —Ranges from ⅛ to ¼ inch. Stem color.— 149B. Stem surface. —Glabrous. Branching habit. —Sparsely branched.

Foliage description:

Leaf shape. —Acicular. Leaf division. —Simple. Leaf arrangement. —Alternate. Leaf base. —Truncate. Leaf apex. —Acute. Leaf venation. —Not conspicuous, color matched leaf color. Leaf margins. —Smooth, young leaves papilose-ciliate. Leaf attachment. —Sessile. Leaf presence and orientation. —Ascending. Leaf surface. —Glabrous and waxy on upper and lower surface. Leaf color. —Young and maturity leaves 144C on both surfaces. Leaf size. —Young leaves; an average of ⅜ inch length and ⅜ inch in width, mature leaves; an average of 1 inch in length and ¾ inch width.

Flower description:

Inflorescence type. —Terminal, cymose, drooping and sub-globose in bud, erect and flat in flower, concave in fruit, branches short and forked, dense many flowered, sparingly leafy. Inflorescence size. —An average of 2.5 inches in width and 1 inch in depth. Lastingness of inflorescence. —About one month. Flower type. —Perfect, spreading, 5-starred. Flower number.— 70 to 80 flowers per cyme. Flower fragrance. —None. Flower buds. —Conical in shape, about ¼ inch in length and ⅛ inch in diameter, ribbed surface, 63C in color. Flower size. —About ½ inch in depth and ¾ inch in diameter. Peduncles. —Round, about ⅜ inches in length, ⅜ inch in width, 146D to 146A at the base in color, glabrous surface. Pedicels. —Round, range from ⅛ to ¼ inch in length, 1/16 inch in width, 186D in color, glabrous surface. Sepals.— 5, spreading, ovate to lanceolate in shape, about ⅛ inch in length and 1/16 inch in width, 144C in color on both surfaces, entire margin, acute apex, truncate base, glabrous on both surfaces. Petals.— 5, spreading, lanceolate in shape, truncate base, acute apex, entire margin, color of inner and outer surfaces is 64D, glabrous on both surfaces.

Reproductive organs:

Pistils.— 5, held erect, about 3/16 inch in length, stigma irregularly globose in shape, 1/32 inch in width and 186C in color, styles lanceolate in shape, ¼ inch in length and 186C in color, ovary 1/10 inch in diameter and 186C in color. Stamens.— 10, about ⅜ inch in length, filament 151D in color, anther is conical in shape, 1/16 inch in length, 151C in color, pollen is sparse in quantity and 151D in color. Fruit. —Rounded with pointed tip, aggregate, range from 1/16 to ⅛ inch in length, an average of ¼ inch in width, 73D tipped with 186D in color, seed production was not observed.