Abstract:
A new and distinct variety of  Gardenia jasminoides  plant named ‘Genie-2’, characterized by its dense, low-profile growth habit, dark green foliage color and abundant fragrant, triple-whorl white flowers is disclosed.

Description:
Genus and species:  Gardenia jasminoides.    
     Varietal denomination: ‘Genie-2’. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the genus  Gardenia  and a member of the Rubiaceae family. This new  Gardenia  variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘Genie-2’, was discovered by Allyn Austin Cook in June. 2007. ‘Genie-2’ is characterized by its dense, low-profile growth habit, dark green foliage color and abundant fragrant, triple-whorl white flowers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     ‘Genie-2’ is derived and selected from gifted, unnamed, without traceable lineage and unpatented seed planted in Alachua County, Fla. Seed was received en masse in 2005. Ten (10) of the seeds were planted. After two (2) years, only one (1) grew with distinction. The exceptional plant subsequently named ‘Genie-2’ grew with a low and mounded profile and was a prolific bloomer. 
     The value of this new cultivar lies in its low-profile growth habit, compact dark green foliage color and abundant fragrant triple-whorl white flowers. The remarkable attributes of ‘Genie-2’ are its small size, low-profile growth habit, heat tolerance and disease resistance. ‘Genie-2’ is well suited for use in either formal or informal groupings and is quite attractive in mass plantings. ‘Genie-2’ is appropriate, adaptable and quite attractive as a container plant. ‘Genie-2’ is responsive to pruning and training and may be maintained without an excessive amount of care. Its natural propensity to remain small to maturity makes it valuable for landscape uses in any garden size. 
     Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Dr. Cook&#39;s direction and control in Alachua and Hillsborough counties of Florida. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Alachua County, Fla. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes ‘Genie-2’ from all other varieties in commerce known to the inventor. 1. Dense and low-profile in nature. 2. Attractive dark green foliage. 3. The flowers are triple whorl, white, fragrant and profuse. 4. Reaches mature size under normal fertilization and moisture conditions. 5. Hardy to Zone 7. 6. Tolerates part sun to part shade. 7. Heat tolerant. 8. Adaptable to a wide range of soil types. 9. Easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring through summer or through the process known in the industry as “tissue culture.” 10. Requires little pruning but is tolerant if pruning is desired. 11. Relatively pest resistant. 12. Very desirable in containers. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This new  Gardenia jasminoides  cultivar is illustrated by the accompanying photographic prints. The colors shown are as true as is reasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may appear different than actual colors due to light reflectance. The colors of the various plant parts are defined with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. Descriptions of colors in ordinary terms are presented where appropriate for clarity in meaning. 
         FIG. 1  shows the overall appearance of a plant of ‘Genie-2’ planted in the ground. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of a flower of ‘Genie-2’. 
         FIG. 3  shows the overall appearance of a plant of ‘Genie-2’ in a container. 
     
    
    
     BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT 
     The following is a detailed description of the new variety of  Gardenia  based on observations made of two-year-old plants grown in one to three gallon containers and in established landscape plantings in Alachua and Hillsborough Counties, Fla., utilizing common gardening techniques. The description includes a comparison with  Gardenia jasminoides  ‘Leeone’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,983) and  Gardenia jasminoides  ‘Daisy’ (unpatented). 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Genus species 
                 
                   Gardenia 
                 
                 
                   Gardenia 
                 
                 
                   Gardenia 
                 
               
               
                   
                 
                   jasminoides 
                 
                 
                   jasminoides 
                 
                 
                   jasminoides 
                 
               
               
                 Varietal 
                 ‘Genie-2’ 
                 ‘Leeone’ 
                 ‘Daisy’ 
               
               
                 denomination 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Height 
                 1-1½′ 
                 3-4′ 
                 3-3½′ 
               
               
                 (Mature) 
                 (0.3-0.5 m) 
                 (0.9-1.2 m) 
                 (0.9-1.05 m) 
               
               
                 Width 
                 2-3′ 
                 2½-3′ 
                 3-3½′ 
               
               
                 (Mature) 
                 (0.6-0.9 m) 
                 (0.75-0.9 m) 
                 (0.9-1.05 m) 
               
               
                 Leaf Length 
                 1⅝-2⅜″ 
                 1½-2¾″ 
                 1¼-2¼″ 
               
               
                   
                 (4.1-6.0 cm) 
                 (3.8-7 cm) 
                 (3.1-5.7 cm) 
               
               
                 Leaf Width 
                 ¼-¾″ 
                 ⅝-1⅛″ 
                 ⅝-1 3/16″ 
               
               
                   
                 (0.7-2.0 cm) 
                 (1.6-2.9 cm) 
                 (1.6-3.02 cm) 
               
               
                 Leaf Shape 
                 Elliptic-Lanceolate 
                 Elliptic-lanceolate 
                 Ovate-rounded 
               
               
                 Growth Habit 
                 Dense, Low-profile 
                 Dense upright 
                 Dense globose 
               
               
                 Flower Form 
                 Triple 
                 Double 
                 Single 
               
               
                 Bloom Period 
                 May-August 
                 May-November 
                 May-October 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Gardenia jasminoides  ‘Leeone’ and  Gardenia jasminoides  ‘Daisy’ are well known in the industry and are comparable to ‘Genie-2’ in that all have green foliage color and white fragrant blooms. However, there are many differences. The growth habit of ‘Genie-2’ is compact, dense and low in profile to a mature height of 1½′ (0.5 m) tall compared to ‘Leeone’ which is upright, globose and much taller—4′ (1.2 m) tall. The flower form of ‘Genie-2 is a triple whorl where ‘Leeone’ is double and ‘Daisy’ is single. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the description were approximately 2 years old and were grown in 1-3 gallon containers in part shade outdoor conditions in Alachua County, Fla.
     Botanical classification: ‘Genie-2’ is a cultivar of ‘ Gardenia jasminoides’.      Parentage: “Genie-2’ is derived and selected from seed received as a gift, unnamed and without traceable lineage planted in Alachua County, Fla. Seed was received en masse in 2005.   Plant description: The claimed variety is a compact, low-profile evergreen shrub. The plant is hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 9.
             Propagation .—Stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots in summer: approximately 4 weeks. Tissue culture.     Root description .—Numerous, fibrous and well-branched.     Plant size .—About 30 cm high from the soil level to the top of the foliage and about 60 cm wide after 2 years.     First year stems .—Diameter of 3-5 mm. Shape: round. Color: 137A.     Stem strength .—Flexible when young, more easily broken once mature.     Internode length .—Partially dependent upon sun exposure; 1.5-2 cm.     Second year and older stems .—Diameter of 5-8 mm or more. Shape: round. Color: N199B.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite. Mature foliage color: 147A upper Surface, 146B undersurface.     Shape .—Elliptical. Apex: acuminate. Base: cuneate. Margin: entire to revolute.     Texture .—Glabrous, lustrous.     Venation .—Pinnate. Petiole length: 1-2 mm.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type and habit .—Flowers are borne singly from mid branch to the distal end. Individual flowers are showy for about 4 days and remain on the plant for 1 to 2 weeks after they have senesced. Bloom period: Spring, Flowers are produced abundantly from May to June and then sporadically through August in Alachua County, Fla. Fragrance: Exceedingly sweet fragrance.     Flower diameter .—About 5 cm. Height or depth: About 3.5 cm.     Flower bud diameter .—About 1 cm. Flower bud length: about 2.5 cm. Flower bud shape: oblong. Color: 144A.       
       Petals:
             Quantity.— 6 to 8 true petals and 16 to 18 petaloids per flower.     True petal length .—About 1 cm. Width: About 0.9 cm. Shape: obovate with entire, undulating margins and overlapping in arrangement to form a whorl. Texture: Thick, glabrous.     Petaloid petal length.— 0.3 to 0.5 cm, becoming smaller toward the center of the flower. Shape: Obovate. Texture: Thick, glabrous. Color: At peak bloom the upper and lower surfaces 155C.       
       Stamens; pistils: There is no physical evidence of reproductive structures despite the common appearance of the colored imprints.   Fruit: None observed.   Disease/pest resistance: No specific pest or disease resistance or susceptibility has been observed, however the variety performs well under normal disease pressures in Alachua County, Fla.