US Patent Issued to Walters Gardens on Sept. 22 for "Salvia plant named 'Dark Sky'" (Michigan Inventor)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 24 -- United States Patent no. PP37,712, issued on Sept. 22, was assigned to Walters Gardens Inc. (Zeeland, Mich.).

"Salvia plant named 'Dark Sky'" was invented by Hans A. Hansen (Zeeland, Mich.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A new and distinct cultivar of perennial Salvia plant named 'Dark Sky' characterized by its large, mounded, vigorous, and winter-hardy habit. The large flowers of deep indigo-blue beginning in late spring on densely arranged in verticils on tall, stiff, heavily-branched panicles above a mound of large, rugose, dark-green foliage. The new plant flowers without vernalization. Salvia 'Dark Sky' is useful for ornamental purposes."

The patent was filed...