Plant
Pieris
14 US plant patents name this plant. 3 have expired, so those cultivars are free to propagate and sell. The next of the 11 still protected comes off patent on October 11, 2027.
Still under patent — 11 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- PassionPP19319Pieris plant named ‘Passion’UNDER PATENTOctober 11, 2027
- RaltoPP19331Pieris plant named ‘Ralto’UNDER PATENTOctober 11, 2027
- FIRE N ICEPP19994Pieris plant named ‘FIRE N ICE’UNDER PATENTNovember 12, 2027
- Opstal 10PP23481Pieris plant named ‘Opstal 10’UNDER PATENTNovember 23, 2031
- GreprsPP23584Pieris plant named ‘Greprs’UNDER PATENTFebruary 2, 2032
- ConrabideauPP24360Pieris japonica plant named ‘Conrabideau’UNDER PATENTJuly 20, 2032
- ShyPP26290Pieris plant named ‘Shy’UNDER PATENTMay 8, 2034
- SincerePP29148Pieris plant named ‘Sincere’UNDER PATENTJuly 26, 2036
- CabernetPP29130Pieris plant named ‘Cabernet’UNDER PATENTJuly 29, 2036
- FARROWPJRFPP31866Pieris plant named ‘FARROWPJRF’UNDER PATENTFebruary 14, 2039
- Piesid2PP34660Pieris plant named ‘Piesid2’UNDER PATENTMarch 31, 2042
Already in the public domain — 3 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.
- KatsuraPP15452Pieris plant named ‘Katsura’PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 20, 2022
- SweetwaterPP7872Pieris japonica named SweetwaterPUBLIC DOMAINAugust 27, 2010
- CrystalPP4794Pieris japonica named CrystalPUBLIC DOMAINJune 27, 2000
Botanically this is Pieris. 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.