Plant
Itea
5 US plant patents name this plant. 1 has expired, so that cultivar is free to propagate and sell. The next of the 4 still protected comes off patent on October 20, 2037.
Still under patent — 4 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- SMNIVDFCPP30233Itea plant named ‘SMNIVDFC’UNDER PATENTOctober 20, 2037
- BailteaonePP31318Itea plant named ‘Bailteaone’UNDER PATENTJanuary 9, 2039
- SMNIVMMPP33549Itea plant named ‘SMNIVMM’UNDER PATENTSeptember 30, 2040
- SMIHGRSPP33804Itea plant named ‘SMIHGRS’UNDER PATENTJanuary 1, 2041
Already in the public domain — 1 cultivar
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell this plant — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- SprichPP10988Itea virginica plant named `Sprich`PUBLIC DOMAINFebruary 5, 2018
Botanically this is Itea. A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked. Any brand name it is sold under is a separate thing and may still be owned.