'Gardenia'(Pronounced: gar-DEAN-ee-ah) |
| 'Gardenia' |
The flowers of 'Gardenia' are medium-sized (2-1/2" - 3") and creamy white with prominent golden stamens. Their scent is reminiscent of their namesake. | The flowers open flat and are semi-double. The bloom is particularly prolific in early May. |
'Gardinia' blooms normally occur in fairly dense clusters of 5 to 7 flowers. | The buds of 'Gardinia' are very fat and butter yellow. |
The buds open to semi-double yellow blooms that fade to near white. |
| GENERAL INFORMATION: | 'Gardenia' is a once-blooming rambling rose with medium-sized white flowers that have a scent reminiscent of gardenias. |
| BOTANICAL GROUP: | Synstylae |
| GROUP: | |
| CLASS: | R |
| SEED PARENT: | R. wichurana |
| POLLEN PARENT: | 'Perle des Jardins' |
| BREEDER: | Manda, w. a. |
| INTRODUCED: | 'Gardenia' was introduced by Manda (USA) in 1899. |
| DATE: | 1899 [ United States ] |
| PLANT SIZE AND FORM: | Height: 12 ' to 20 ' Width: 8 ' to 10 ' 'Gardenia' forms a large mounding shrub or may be trained as a climber. The canes are relatively thin and relaxed and there are few thorns. As a climber it will grow to heights of 20' and widths of 15'. |
| FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION: | The foliage is a rich dark green and glossy. |
| FOLIAGE FRAGRANCE: | None. |
| BLOOM FREQUENCY: | O - Once Blooming. 'Gardenia' starts blooming in mid-spring (early April in the Texas Hill Country) and continues for approximately 3 to 4 weeks. The spring display is spectacular. |
| BLOOM DESCRIPTION: | Flower Size: 3.00" to 3.00" Cluster Size: 5 to 7 Petal Count: 25 to 40 'Gardenia' flowers are medium-sized (2-1/2" - 3") and double with prominent golden stamens. They are borne in short-stemmed loose clusters that cover the plant during the spring bloom. |
| BLOOM COLOR: | 'Gardenia' buds are butter yellow. The blooms open creamy white with prominent golden stamens, and then fade to pure white in the sunlight. |
| COLOR VARIATION: | The flowers fase from light yellow to creamy white. |
| FRAGRANCE: | mf - Moderately Fragrant. 'Gardenia' has a soft but distinctive scent of green apples that is reminiscent of the gardenia flower. |
| HIPS: | None observed. |
| CLIMATE: | Zones 5 - 9 |
| CULTURE: | 'Gardenia' tolerates poor soils and shade. |
| PROPAGATION: | 'Gardenia' may be propagated by cuttings. |
| OTHER CHARACTERISTICS: | Because 'Gardenia' tolerates shade, it is an excellent choice for growing into trees. It will also cover and cascade over any available fence, turning it into a mass of creamy white fragrant flowers in the spring. Although 'Gardenia' is a wonderful rose and an aggressive prolifically bloomng rambler, it is quite rare today, according to Peter Beals. |
| ANECDOTAL INFORMATION: | I came across a very beautiful, once-blooming white rose along the side of the Sisterdale Road Cutoff in Boerne, Texas and made a number of cuttings. At the time I gave it the study name of "Kathy Newton White". I subsequently purchased and planted a specimen of 'Gardenia', and without the labels, it is impossible to tell "which twin has the Tony." 'Gardenia' (nee Kathy Newton White) had thrived and flourished on that fence for many years without water, feeding or other care. In 1996, I was horrified to see that the rose had been cut to the ground, leaving no trace. A stray automobile had demolished the fence and the rose had to be cut back to permit the fence to be rebuilt. But in a matter of weeks there was strong new growth and in six months the rose had regained nearly half its former stature. |
| REFERENCES: | American Rose Society. Modern Roses 10. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 1993, p. 200. American Rose Society. Modern Roses XI. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 2000, p. 180. Antique Rose Emporium. The Antique Rose Emporium 1988 Catalog. Independence, Texas: Antique Rose Emporium. 1988, p. 84. Beales, Peter. Classic Roses. New York: Henry Holt & Company. 1997, pp. 346, 348. Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. 1996, p. 69. |