<i>Gardenia </i>plant named ‘SMNGDUO’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Gardenia plant named ‘SMNGDUO’, characterized by its low mounding, upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely and continuously flowering from mid to late summer; relatively large double-type white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Gardenia plant named ‘SMNGDUO’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographic sheet illustrates the overall appearance of the new Gardenia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Gardenia plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMNGDUO’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘SMNGDUO’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early summer in three-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under typical Gardenia production practices. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Gardenia jasminoides ‘SMNGDUO’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of Gardenia jasminoides, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown proprietary selection of Gardenia jasminoides, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at temperatures about 18° C. to 27° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 27° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy and fibrous; orangish white to tan in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots. Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; low mounding upright to outwardly spreading plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Plant height.—About 25 cm. Plant width (spread).—About 65 cm. Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About 20 per plant; pruning will enhance lateral branch development. Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture, developing: Slightly pubescent. Texture, developed: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: About 20° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 197B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Opposite; single. Length.—About 7 cm. Width.—About 3.5 cm. Shape.—Elliptic. Apex.—Acuminate. Base.—Attenuate. Margin.—Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy coriaceous. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous with prominent venation; somewhat glossy. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144B. Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: When developing, slightly pubescent becoming smooth and glabrous with development. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B. Flower description: Flower type, arrangement and quantity.—Relatively large, symmetrical rotate double-type flowers; flowers axillary and solitary; about four to ten flowers and flower buds per lateral stem and about 300 flowers develop per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly; flowers persistent. Flowering season.—Plants of the new Gardenia flower from mid to late summer in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm. Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm. Fragrance.—Moderately to strongly fragrant; fragrance is sweet, bright and peppery. Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Oblong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A. Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six per flower arranged in two whorls; petals are fused at the base. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft, silky. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; venation, close to NN155B; color does not change with subsequent development. Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About ten to twelve in two whorls. Outer whorl petaloids: Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Mostly entire with occasional notches; somewhat undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft and silky. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; venation, close to NN155B; color does not change with subsequent development. Inner whorl petaloids: Length: About 2 cm. Width: Variable, about 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Elliptic to somewhat variable in shape. Apex: Variable, obtuse or notched, undulate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Irregular notches; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft and silky. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; venation, close to NN155B; color does not change with subsequent development. Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically six in a single whorl; fused at the base. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Roughly linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from stem axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: To date, no true stamens have been observed on plants of the new Gardenia; occasionally, partially transformed inner whorl petaloids are observed with stamen-like characteristics. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Irregularly two to three-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 160C. Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants of the new Gardenia. Pathogen & pest tolerance: To date, plants of the new Gardenia have not been observed to be tolerant to pathogens and pests common to Gardenia plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Gardenia have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures ranging from −31° C. to 38° C.