I bought this small plant from a vendor about a year back, attracted by its healthy deep green leaves. It looked very much like a gardenia but it was a small plant compared to the ones I have. I was thinking it could be a gardenia plant, but the vendor insisted it was not. I figured he must be right and I was wrong. The gardenias I have (variegated and non-variegated) see post dated Aug 23rd 2010 are planted on the ground as they outgrow their pots pretty fast. Compared to this petite looking plant, they are robust in size.
Finally this plant has bloomed and its identity can no longer be doubted. When the buds appeared very much like the gardenia, I was pretty sure this plant is just another gardenia plant after all. Yet, I waited in anticipation for its blooms keeping my fingers crossed that they will be different from the ones I already have ! It remained a small plant growing in a small pot.
So upon seeing the first bloom, one can imagine my delight ! Delight is tame indeed, I was gratified ! The bloom is certainly different from the gardenias I already have and the scent - ooh so much sweeter and stronger ! Despite being such a small plant, this first bloom is rather prominent (almost 3 inches from one tip of petal to the other) ! Take a look at this beauty ..... !
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| It was evening when the first layer of petals unfold ... |
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| By morning ... |
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| Side view .... |
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| Top View |
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| 2nd layer of petals unfold .... |
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| Almost there ..... |
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| A beauty indeed ! |
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| By 3rd day ..... full bloom ! |
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| Slight yellowing on edges of petals at end of day .. |
So what species of gardenia is this beauty .... ? I surfed the internet, and came across this "Dwarf Gardenia". Can I be convinced that it is a Dwarf ? A dwarf seemed to be much smaller even. I guess I have to wait to see the fruit, if ever a fruit appears. My other gardenias have never bear fruits or berries. I also noticed that this first bloom lasted more than 3 days before it starts to show a tinge of yellowing around the petal edges... ! The other gardenias normally lasted a day or at most 2 days and start to yellow !
One verdict - "I LIKE " .....lolz!
