Plant Patent Numbers

This generally is a catalog referral phrase. For the general gardener it may not be important but new plants, like inventions, can also be patented. This is a protection for the owner who created the "new" plant.

A patent legally prevents others from reproducing the protected plant variety by cuttings, tissue culture or any other method of asexual propagation without the written authorization or licensing of the patent holder. However, there is no regulation against using the plant in sexual reproduction. The seed or pollen from a patented variety may be used without permission of the patent holder. The offspring are free of patent regulations.