plant named ‘LM360’

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is

Variety denomination: The inventive variety ofdisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘LM360’.

Parentage: ‘LM360’ is a seedling selection resulting from an open-pollination and seedling selection process carried out by the inventor at his commercial breeding facility in Clarendon, NSW, Australia. In early spring of 2015, an unnamed, fine-bladed, small-statured femaleplant (unpatented) was placed in close proximity to a plurality of unnamed, fine-bladed, small-staturedmale plants (unpatented). These plants were then allowed to openly pollinate. The exact pollen parent is unknown. In early summer of 2015, seed was collected from the female plant. In spring of 2016, said seed was germinated and the resulting seedlings were grown to maturity to observe for traits deemed desirable to commercial production and sales. After two years of observation, several progeny were selected for their combination of compactness, strong plant vigor, and fine leaf texture. These plants were subsequently planted in the ground to assess their resistance to crown and root rotting diseases. In the fall of 2019, one of these plants was selected for its compact size, weeping habit, soft-to-the-touch and dark green foliage, and improved disease resistance when compared to the female parent and all other progeny.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘LM360’ was first asexually propagated in 2019 by division of the plant's crown in Clarendon, NSW, Australia and has since been asexually reproduced by meristematic tissue culture propagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘LM380’ variety have proven to be stable through five generations and clones so produced maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

‘LM360’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LM360’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LM360’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of aornamental plant known as ‘LM360’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Greeleyville, South Carolina. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made in later October 2024 of 24-month-old ‘LM360’ plants grown outdoors from rooted cuttings in 250 mm nursery pots filled with soilless potting media, maintained with granular slow-release fertilizer and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. Routine application of herbicide to prevent common pests and diseases.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘LM360’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition.

A botanical description of ‘LM360’ and comparisons with the seed parent and several similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LM360’ may be distinguished from the seed parent, and unnamedplant, by the characteristics described in Table 1, below.

While the exact male parentage is unknown, all possible pollen contributors exhibited a homogenous phenotype. The new cultivar ‘LM360’ may be distinguished from this population of potential pollen contributors by the characteristics described in Table 2, below.

The new cultivar ‘LM360’ may be distinguished from the most similar variety known to the inventor,‘LM300’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,420), by the characteristics described in Table 3, below.