Ficus benjamina plant named Golden King

#The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Ficus benjamina, known by the cultivar name Golden King.

#Golden King is the result of an irradiation program carried out under the direction of applicant in Melle, Belgium in 1979. The parent cultivar was an unnamed and unpatented cultivar of Ficus benjamina having solid green leaves. The new cultivar was immediately recognizable by its luxuriant green leaves and pleasantly contrasting light yellow variegation in the borders of the leaves and extending inwardly from the border in irregular patterns and amounts. This variegation color characteristic did not previously exist in Ficus benjamina cultivars to the best knowledge of applicant.

#The first act of asexual reproduction of Golden King was accomplished when stem cuttings were taken in January 1980 in a controlled environment in Melle, Belgium under the supervision of applicant. Horticultural examination of Golden King has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

#The accompanying photograhic drawings show a typical mature plant and foliage characteristics of Golden King, with colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

#Sheet 1 is a front view of the plant, and Sheet 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the bottom of a single leaf of Golden King. Sheet 2 accurately depicts the variegation color, but the main green background color is much darker than the actual color. The main background color is accurately depicted in the photographic comprising Sheet 1 and is accurately set forth in the color value noted below.

#In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined in early April in Alexandria, Va. under natural light conditions.

#Classification:

#Botanical.--Ficus benjamina c.v. Golden King.