Plant
Mecardonia
6 US plant patents name this plant. 2 have expired, so those cultivars are free to propagate and sell. The next of the 4 still protected comes off patent on October 28, 2028.
Still under patent — 4 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- SunmecakiraPP20747Mecardonia plant named ‘Sunmecakira’UNDER PATENTOctober 28, 2028
- USMECA8205PP22871Mecardonia plant named ‘USMECA8205’UNDER PATENTDecember 11, 2030
- SAKMEC002PP24515Mecardonia plant named ‘SAKMEC002’UNDER PATENTMarch 19, 2033
- INTAMEC003PP30298Mecardonia plant named ‘INTAMEC003’UNDER PATENTSeptember 26, 2037
Already in the public domain — 2 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- SunmecarekiPP18210Mecardonia plant named ‘Sunmecareki’PUBLIC DOMAINMay 31, 2026
- USMECA67PP15777Mecardonia plant named ‘USMECA67’PUBLIC DOMAINMay 5, 2024
Botanically this is Mecardonia. 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.