Unless you are going to patent or trademark it as such, there's really no need to register for most plants. Specific registries exist for some genera...and there are various global registries all coordinated by these people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Cultivar_Registration_Authority   But it's not something you have to worry about until your cultivar achieves positive notoriety. I have several rhododendron cultivars that are named but not registered.

The American Public Gardens Association is still listed by the ISHS as the ICRA for all hibiscus other than rosa-sinesis, but I think that the United States National Arboretum is at least the acting ICRA, and maybe the new official ICRA, for all other hibiscus.

Ok, I have it named. I wasn't planning on patenting/trademarking because I want to enable others to propagate it without any legal issues. The APGA is too expensive just to register 1 cultivar, I also have some CMs but that will be a few years from now, just to watch. I am calling it 'Lavender Majesty', it has the regular light purple flowers but it acquired a "tree" shape naturally, the first year of it's life without any assistance. The only problem is the lack of sterility, which will make it undesirable in parts of the US where ROS is invasive. Here are some pics (I did remove a few low branches, just to make it look tidier last week).

These pictures were taken sometime in mid august, it is dropping leaves now.

One individual does not merit attention. You will need to asexually propagate a substantial colony, substantiate the uniqueness of the plants, prove their stability in subsequent generations, and on and on. Takes years.

But you can name your plant "George", if you like. Propagate it vegetatively, track the performance.....document, document, document.

Plant is not visibly unique or special enough in any other way to warrant naming it and building it up.

I realize this rhizo. I think if I try to market this cultivar, maybe people can enjoy the natural "tree" look of ROS with a nice (but generic) flower color. I have heard that the new "improved" cultivars that do not seed, do not grow into the "tree" form either. I personally love the "tree" form, it looks rather exotic here in NC. Everyone loves my "hibiscus tree". This is why I have never bought a ROS from a big box store.

You have to be able to replicate it consistently and it has to be stable (i.e. not revert to species form). This takes generations of plants.

Richard Feist is a success story. In the 90's he stumbled upon a compact Itea virginica. He patented it 'Little Henry'. This new plant had many desirable qualities. It was an improvement over existing cultivars. It was readily and easily propagated. It was marketable because it looked good and bloomed in a container. It was stable. Just think of the royalties he has collected over the past 16 years.

Habit and flowers of plant shown utterly orthodox.

Agree with Embo. I think I burned about 3 looking like this a couple weeks ago in my annual weed tree bonfire. I commend Logan for having the instinct to preserve something he thought was unique, but in this case it really isn't. That mauvy pink seems like the default color for that species.

BTW I might have mentioned before but syriacus stems, when dried for just a few weeks, burn with astonishing readiness.

I don't burn everything but if I put already-seeding rose of sharon onto my regular compost pile...I'm going to be dealing with a bunch of seedlings down there, too! I also burn trimmings of Zanthoxylum and my couple of tea roses since I otherwise fear accidentally getting poked by them if I'm weeding near the brush pile.

A simple answer, and a cautionary tale.

the answer to how to register a cultivar is remarkably simple: you simply must have the name published, in your own price list if you have no other means handy, and that's that. certain plant societies maintain their own master list for certain genera, mostly to cut down on duplication of named clones, and each will tell you that you must subscribe to their rules, however accessible or arcane they are. A patented and trademarked variety is rather different, but as expressed above, does not apply to this question.

the cautionary tale is this: many are the people who have thought they had something remarkable, something unique. the history of horticulture is littered with a vast number of names that have succumbed to history. How many named varieties of daylily (40,000 names) or hosta (6,000 names) or rose (perhaps God only knows how many have been named) exist? How many of those varieties are truly unique? A famed hosta breeder once said that for every hundred cultivars named, perhaps ten were worthy of release. Just because you think it's special doesn't mean anyone else is going to. To name a cultivar based on one exemplar and a single season's growth? I do believe this would be the definition of horticultural hubris. Does that mean you can't? not at all. Just be aware that your perception and other's are not always the same.

"the answer to how to register a cultivar is remarkably simple: you
simply must have the name published, in your own price list if you have
no other means handy, and that's that."

That is simply incorrect. Publishing a cultivar's name does nothing whatsoever to register that name. I'm not sure where Waynedanielson came up with such an idea.

Most people in the plant world (both here in the US and most other countries) rely on the ICRAs appointed by ISHS to register plants.

Publication gives it an existence but does not register it.

Well, I intend to watch it for at least 8 more years before I release it to other growers (home and/or wholesale). I may try to sell them myself first and see how they do. Thanks for all the info.

That publication suggestion reminded me of the group that was telling people that they could now vote from home in the presidential election by liking the candidate on Facebook. (-;

Saw that on facebook also.

Funny that Little Henry is an example of success. I see it as an example of shady marketing. The name implies that it is a small version of Henry's Garnet. But it is straight up inferior in multiple ways. It is one example of plant marketing that burns me up.

HERE is a link to Iseli Nursery's site. This page tells how some new plants are developed at their nursery, mostly conifers. It is worth noting that Iseli Nursery also has an INTERN PROGRAM. Are there any young posters here that could benefit from such a program??????

If you are implying that I should take an intern program, than no. I run a successful small business growing landscaping plants, doing small landscape jobs, and making/selling home decor.

reason edited: grammar

I intend to watch it for at least 8 more years before I release it to other growers (home and/or wholesale)

So far your plant has demonstrated nothing to suggest there is any scope for this.

Those internships are extremely competitive from what I hear (Buchholz has one too) and the folks that I know that have done them have come from an academic program in horticulture, plant science, dendrology, etc. Oh and Logan, he was implying it, you inferred that from his implication.

Implying, that was the word I couldn't quite place....... Went brain-dead there for a minute.