Gardenia plant named ‘WAH-SG’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Gardenia plant, referred to by its cultivar name, WAH-SG, is provided which forms single, small sized, fragrant, white colored inflorescences. Attractive, glossy, dark green colored foliage is formed, which contrasts beautifully with the blossoms. The vegetation is moderately vigorous and the growth habit is tight, compact, and rounded. The new variety is well suited for proving attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Gardenia plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, fragrant, small-sized single, white-colored inflorescences, (b) exhibits glossy, dark green colored foliage; and (c) provides moderately vigorous vegetation, with tight, compact, and rounded growth habit; substantially as herein shown and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in color illustrations of this character, typical specimens of the new variety. The Gardenia plants of the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observed while growing outdoors at Cochranville, Pa., U.S.A. in 3-gallon containers.

(2) FIG. 1illustrates a specimen the plantcanopy view of the overall growth and flowering habit.

(3) FIG. 2illustrates specimens of open flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2015 edition), London, England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The color values were determined in June 2019 under natural light conditions in Cochranville, Pa. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Class: Gardenia Plant. Plant: Habit.Tight, compact, and rounded. General appearance.Moderately vigorous. Size.Height from soil level to top of plant plane is approximately 31.0 cm on average and width is approximately 33.0 cm on average. Branching habit.Freely branching and pinching enhances branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant: approximately 7 main branches. Branch.Strength: strong. Length: approximately 15.0 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 6.0 mm on average. Length of central internode: approximately 1.5 cm on average. Texture: furfuraceous to scurfy. Color of mature stems: commonly near Brown Group N200A. Foliage: Fragrance.None detected. Form.Simple. Arrangement.Opposite. Leaves.Shape: rounded. Margin: entire. Apex: rounded. Base: cuneate. Venation pattern: pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.5 cm on average. Width of mature leaf: approximately 2.0 cm on average. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, with very glossy upper surface. Color of upper surface of young foliage: commonly near Green Group 137A with venation of near Green Group 137B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: commonly near Green Group 137C with venation of near Green Group 137B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: commonly near Green Group 139A with venation of near Green Group 139B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: commonly near Green Group 139B with venation of near Green Group 139C. Petiole.Length: approximately 2.0 mm on average. Diameter: approximately 1.0 mm on average. Texture: Glabrous. Color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B. Inflorescence: Flower general description.Type: single. Quantity per plant: approximately 30 open at a time. Fragrance: strong, pleasantly sweet. Aspect: upward to outward. Bud just before opening.Shape: oblong. Length: approximately 3.5 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 1.2 cm on average. Color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group N144B. Corolla.Shape: rotate. Depth: approximately 3.5 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 5.0 cm on average. Petals.Quantity: 6. Shape: obovate. Margin: entire. Apex: rounded. Base: truncate. Length: approximately 2.0 cm on average. Width: approximately 1.7 cm on average. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces when fully open: commonly near White Group NN155B. Calyx.Shape: star-shaped. Depth: approximately 1.0 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 8.0 mm on average. Sepals.Quantity: 6. Shape: narrow lanceolate. Margin: entire. Apex: acute. Base: fused. Length: approximately 1.0 cm on average. Width: approximately 2.0 mm on average. Texture of upper surface: glabrous. Texture of lower surface: glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A. Peduncle.Strength: strong. Shape: rounded. Aspect: erect to about 30 from branch axis. Length: approximately 1.0 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 3.0 mm on average. Texture: furfuraceous. Color: commonly near Grey-Brown Group N199A. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower is approximately 6 and stamen length is approximately 7.0 mm on average. Anther shape is narrow oblong, dorsifixed; anther length is approximately 7.0 mm on average; and anther color is commonly near Greyed-Yellow Group 161A. Pollen amount is moderate; pollen color is commonly near Yellow Group 3B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity is 1 per flower irregularly divided into two or three segments and pistil length approximately 3.5 cm on average. Stigma shape is irregularly elliptic; stigma color is commonly near Yellow Group 7B. Style length is approximately 2.2 cm on average; style color is commonly near Yellow Group 4D. Ovary length is approximately 3.0 mm on average; and ovary color is commonly near Green-White Group 157A. Development: Vegetation.Moderately vigorous. Commercial crop time.Approximately one year from a rooted cutting to finish in a 3-gallon container. Hardiness.USDA Zone 7 (0 F. to 10 F.). Flowering season.Flowers in spring with intermittent flowering through fall. Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.Approximately one week. Disease and pest resistance.Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Gardenia has not been observed. Seed and fruit production.Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.

(5) The new WAH-SG variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.