<i>Gardenia </i>plant named ‘ST-07-20’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Gardenia plant named ‘ST-07-20’ is disclosed, characterized by fragrant, double white flowers, abundant large flowers in spring with reblooming to fall, lustrous, dark green foliage, columnar growth habit, cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7. The new cultivar is a Gardenia, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gardenia plant named ‘ST-07-20’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying illustrations show characteristics of the new cultivar in photographs as true to color as is reasonably possible to make in illustrations of this nature. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Gardenia.

(2) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color an up-close view of the flower of ‘ST-07-20’.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the plant habit of ‘ST-07-20’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the description were approximately 2 years old and were grown in 3 gallon containers in full sun under outdoor conditions in Watkinsville, Ga. Averages have been applied. Botanical classification: Gardenia jasminoides ‘ST-07-20’.

PROPAGATION

(5) Propagation method: Terminal cuttings. Time to rooting: About 21 days at 32° C. in summer. Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 4 months at 32° C. in summer. Root description: Numerous, fibrous, and well-branched. Colored RHS White 155A.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Upright, evergreen shrub. Height: Average 61 cm. Plant spread: 49 cm. Branching characteristics: Freely branching. First year stems: Length.—15 cm. Diameter.—3 mm. Shape.—Terete. Color.—Young: RHS Yellow-Green 143C. Woody: RHS Brown 201B. Pubescence.—Finely hairy. Strength.—Flexible. Second year stems: Length.—50 cm. Diameter.—5 mm. Shape.—Terete. Color.—RHS Brown 201B. Pubescence.—None by second year. Strength.—Easily broken once mature. Bark: Some stringy exfoliation beginning on second year stems. Colored near RHS Brown 201B. Trunk: Diameter.—1.7 cm at the soil line. Color.—RHS Brown 201B. Internode length: 4 cm. Vegetative bud: Arrangement.—Opposite. Shape.—Conical, single-scaled. Length.—3 mm. Width.—1 mm. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.—Opposite, some whorled, especially at terminal end of shoot. Length.—5 cm. Width.—2 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Entire. Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, lustrous. Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous, lustrous. Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 143A. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147C. Petiole: Length.—2 mm. Diameter.—3 mm. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A, both surfaces.

FLOWER

(8) Bloom period: Spring to frost. Flowers are produced abundantly from May to June, and then sporadically through November in Watkinsville, Ga. Flowers: Type and habit.—Flowers are double and borne singly at the terminals and in the axils where two stems divide. Individual flowers are showy for about 2 days and remain on the plant for about 1 to 2 weeks after they have senesced. Height.—4.5 cm. Diameter.—7.5 cm. Bud: Shape.—Oblong. Length.—4.5 cm. Diameter.—1.5 cm. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Petals: Length.—3 cm. Width.—2 cm. Apex.—Rounded. Base.—Attenuate. Shape.—Obovate. Margin.—Entire, undulating and overlapping in arrangement to form a whorl. Number.—6 to 8 true petals and 16 to 18 petaloids per flower. Texture.—Glabrous, both surfaces. Color.—Upper surface at peak bloom: RHS White NN155C. Under surface at peak bloom: RHS White NN155C. Upper surface, aging: RHS Yellow 11C. Under surface, aging: RHS Yellow 11C. Upper surface before dehiscing: RHS Brown N199D. Under surface before dehiscing: RHS Brown N199D. Petaloids: Length.—Average 1.5 to 2.5 cm, becoming smaller toward the top and center of the flower. Diameter.—Average 1.1 to 2.1 cm becoming smaller toward the top and center of the flower. Color.—Upper surface at peak bloom: RHS White NN155C. Under surface at peak bloom: RHS White NN155C. Upper surface, aging: RHS Yellow 11C. Under surface, aging: RHS Yellow 11C. Upper surface before dehiscing: RHS Brown N199D. Under surface before dehiscing: RHS Brown N199D. Texture.—Glabrous, both surfaces. Peduncle: Length.—1 cm. Diameter.—4 mm. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 141A. Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. Aspect.—Upright. Strength.—Strong. Calyx: Length.—2.5 cm. Width.—1.5 cm. Color.—RHS Green 143A. Sepals: Arrangement.—Star-shaped calyx with 5 sepals fused at the base. Length.—2.5 cm. Diameter.—4 mm. Color.—RHS Green 141A. Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Acute. Margin.—Entire. Pedicels: Length.—2 cm. Diameter.—7 mm. Texture.—Glabrous. Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.—4 to 6, sometimes petaloid or malformed. Arrangement.—There is no separate filament structure present, instead the anthers are fused to the base of the petals. Anthers: Shape.—Lanceolate. Length.—8 mm. Width.—2 mm. Color.—RHS Brown N199D. Pollen.—Quantity: Scant. Color: RHS Yellow 9A. Pistil: Number.—1 per flower, inferior. Length.—1.7 cm. Diameter.—5 mm. Style.—Length: 3 cm. Width: 1.5 mm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 154C. Stigma.—Shape: Obovate. Length: 5 mm. Width: 4 mm. Color: RHS Yellow 6A. Ovary.—Shape: Ellipsoidal. Length: 5 mm. Width: 4 mm. Color: RHS Yellow 2C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Disease and pest resistance: No specific pest or disease resistance or susceptibility has been observed. Temperature tolerance: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2012) Zone 7 to 9. Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.