<i>Gardenia </i>plant named ‘LEEFIVE’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Gardenia plant named LEEFIVE is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive columnar plant habit. Foliage is very glossy, broadly ovate and uniquely crinkled. Flowering will occur on a reblooming cycle Summer and Fall. Plants are compact, dense and suitable for Southern climates. The new cultivar is a Gardenia, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gardenia plant named LEEFIVE as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a plant of LEEFIVE grown outdoors in Alabama.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a close up of typical flowers of the new variety. The plant is approximately 2 years old, and is shown in a three-gallon container.

(3) The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe LEEFIVE plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Gardenia hybrida LEEFIVE.

PROPAGATION

(5) Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and Summer. Root description: Woody to semi-wood. Colored near RHS Brown 200D. Time to initiate roots: About 4 to 6 weeks in the Summer. Time to produce a rooted young plant: Approximately 12 weeks in the Summer.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Columnar shrub. Height: Approximately 52 cm to top of foliar and flowering plane. Plant spread: Approximately 28 cm. Branching characteristics: Well branched, approximately 4 to 6 lateral branches emerge from a pinch. Some smaller lateral branches occurring with pinch. Branches occur at upright angles, approximately 15 to 35 from center. Primary branches: Length of primary branches: Average 6-8 cm, then pinched and new branches emerge. Dimeter of primary branches: Approximately 0.9 cm. Primary branch strength: Very strong, flexible, difficult to break. Primary branch color: Mature branches.Near RHS Grey-Brown 199B with striation near Greyed-Purple 183C. Young branches.Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Primary branch texture: Mature branches.Rough. Young growth.Glabrous. Lateral branches: Color.Near RHS Grey-Brown 199A. Length.Average range 10 to 21 cm. Diameter.Approximately 0.8 cm. Aspect.Straight, attached at acute angles. Texture.Slightly canescent. Strength.Strong, flexible. Internode.Average range 0.8 cm to 2.1 cm. Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Type.Simple. Arrangement.Opposite. At end of branches tightly spaced, to appear whorled. Average length.3.5 to 4.8 cm. Average width.3.3 to 4.5 cm. Shape of blade.Broad ovate. Apex.Blunt rounded or broad acute. Base.Cuneate. Attachment.Sessile. Margin.Entire. Aspect.Strong undulation in older leaves. Weak undulation in younger leaves. Internode.Average 0.5 to 1.0 cm. Texture of top surface.Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface.Glabrous. Appearance of top surface.Very glossy. Appearance of bottom surface.Matte. Color.Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Venation.Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.

FLOWER

(8) Bloom period: Plants flower in the Spring, then begin intermittent flowering cycles in late Spring/Summer through Fall. Inflorescence: Arrangement.Single rotate flowers arise from upper leaf axils. Peduncle: Length.Average range 0.9 to 1.4 cm. Diameter.0.4 cm. Color.Near RHS Green 143B. Texture.Glabrous. Aspect.Straight. Angle of attachment, approximately 0 to 15 angle from stem. Strength.Moderately strong and flexible. Flowers: Arrangement.Single rotate flowers arise from upper leaf axils. Length.Average 3.5 cm. Diameter.Average 5.5 cm. Facing direction.Outwardly facing. Persistent or self-cleaning.Flowers persist until completely dried up, then fall off. Fragrance.Strong, sweet fragrance. Tube: Tube length.Approximately 2.9 cm. Tube width a widest point.Approximately 0.5 cm. Tube width and narrowest point.Approximately 0.3 cm. Petals: Unfused petal segments. Length.Approximately 2.8 cm. Width.Approximately 1.6 cm. Apex.Rounded. Base.Fused at base into tube. Shape of petal.Unfused portion, spatulate. Petal margin.Entire. Petal arrangement.Rotate, slightly overlapping, fused approximately from base. Petal number.6. Petal texture.Smooth, upper and lower surfaces. Color.Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS White 155C. Under surface at first opening: Near RHS White 155C. Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155C. Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155C. Upper surface at fading: Near RHS White 155C. Under surface at fading: Near RHS White 155C. Bud: Shape.Elliptic. Length.2.8 cm. Diameter.1.7 cm. Color.Near RHS White 155C and Yellow-Green 150D. Calyx/sepals: Quantity per flower.5 sepals. Arrangement.Rotate. Shape.Narrow deltate, base fused. Length.Average 1.1 cm. Width.0.3 cm. Apex.Acute. Base.Fused. Margin.Entire. Texture.Very slightly pubescent all surfaces. Color.Inner Surface: Near RHS Green 143C. Outer Surface: Near RHS Green 137D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.6, except anthers, androecium fused to floral tube. Length.0.9 cm, anthers only. Width.0.1 cm. Anthers.Anthers reflexed back, and attached to petals. Length: Approximately 0.9 cm. Width: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 155B. Pollen: Scant, colored near RHS Greyed-Orange 165D. Shape: Linear to crescent. Pistil: Number.1. Length.3.7 cm. Style.Length: 3.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D. Stigma.4 lobed globular, colored near RHS Greyed-Yellow 160D. Ovary.Approximately 0.4 cm in diameter, 0.4 long. Colored near RHS Green 143B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility observed to normal diseases and pests of Gardenia hybrida. Typical diseases of Gardenia include Erysiphe polygoni, and Phomopsis gardenia. Pests include the nematode Meloidogyne spp., white fly Dialeurodes citri and various scales, including Ceroplastes japonicas, Icerya purchase, Fiorinia theae, Hemiberlesia rapax and Aspidiotus nerii. Temperature tolerance: USDA Zone 7 to 10. Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.