The Gardenia Tree has been identified!

Much to my amazement I received an answer from a gentleman who does the Florida buying at Geerlings, the wholesaler who sold the gardenia tree to our Acme. I tracked him down with a sticker from the pot I found when I transplanted the tree. I used to be a detective. LOL

He has informed me that the variety is called Aimee and it is the same variety that is used in cut flower arrangements, which explains why it lasts so long when I cut it and bring it in. Also, some of the cut blooms root quickly. He said he has forwarded my email with the questions about how he made the tree to the man who grows them in Florida. I had ask if it was patented and how it was made into a tree. I do hope the guy answers my questions. At least we know it has a name now.
This person also said he has three in his home and his friends all comment on the fragrance. I wrote back and ask him questions about keeping them alive inside over the winter. I feel sure he will respond. I will keep you all posted. Hugs. JB

It is still blooming. That has been going on since Mothers Day.

Have a nice day.

Just found more info:

2448 Gardenia Aimee Yoshioka - grafted
Also called "First Love" (sometimes misspelled as YAshioka), this cultivar is one of the darkest green of all gardenias, it has a 3 to 5 inch bloom so perfect, it looks artificial. It was developed by Tadaoki Yoshioka while he lived in Hawaii, and he later brought it to Florida when he moved to Ft. Lauderdale with his family in 1954. The gardenia was named after his daughter, Aimee, who died in a plane crash in Dallas in 1984. Aimee gardenia grows openly and upright and blooms twice a year and slightly later than others. Flower Size 3 - 5". Large bushy grafted plant, with buds or/and flowers, can be planted in ground.
Found this at Top Tropicals Plant Catalog.

Great info JB!!! Wish I knew about mine...and let me tell you IF it's an Aimee - after I went and bought one...I'm gonna be slightly annoyed at myself.... Please share his responses if you would...

Chantell, check out this link and see what you think. Remember we talked about the Gardenia Jasminoides. It sems that this plant ius often labeled as Gardenia Jasminoides which they say is now a synonym and no longer valid.

http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Gardenia_Augusta.htm

Good info, JB...I love their site!!

I just had the NJ State Nursery Inspector pull a surprise inspection on my GH and thank God I had just spent a few weeks cleaning it up and I PASSED inspection for another year. He inspected all the plants that are outside and going back in as well as the plants inside. Another $75. Oh well, at least I am still able to ship my plants.

He loved the Gardenia Tree. My SIL knows him from the Nursery and when I ask about teaching me grafting, he said that if I use cuttings from the tree and keep the lower leaves cut off, I will get it to grow like a tree and it will not have to be grafted. I thought he was kidding me. I have several growing but need to find out of it is patented before I put them up for sale. Besides, I want to keep a few extra for my own use. JB

Here's a good site for looking up accepted names. www.tropicos.org
Here's their results for the gardenia mentioned http://www.tropicos.org/NameAcceptedNames.aspx?nameid=27904162

Thank you Kaipavriksha, I am always looking for information on this plant. I have a file full at this point but still do not know if it is patented.

I have two Aimee Yoshiokas that I purchased from Home Depot at the beginning of July (they still have the tags on them with their name). I have them in pots on both sides of my garage. They are blooming and I have just noticed ants on the buds that are eating some kind of larvae. Suggestions???

I would check if the ants are farming aphids or scale--I don't know if that's what the larvae like things you saw are. Usually when I find ants on my plants aphids or scale aren't too far away. The ants enjoy the honeydew that is secreted by the aphids and scale, and the aphids/scale will hurt your plant worse than the ants will (plus if you get rid of them, the ants will probably go away too).

Also, if you've still got your plant tags, you could help JBerger by looking and see if there's anything on there about a plant patent or the phrase PPAF, accompanied by instructions not to propagate asexually. If the plant is patented it would have that info on the tag (I'm pretty sure it's not patented, but this would help confirm)

Wow....at HD eh? Gotta be more diligent at hitting the stores on a regular basis. Agree with what ecrane already noted. I've found something as easy as alcohol in a mister bottle keeps the aphids under control if you catch them in the beginning...not sure about the larvae but know it works on the adults...

At least those at HD have tags on them.

I will Have to get one now (er, After we move) Aimee is my daughter's middle name. Thanks for all the detective work!
dab

Hey , hello and happy Monday. I just have to brag. I just finished repotting 23 Aimee Gardenia cuttings that have grown out of their little starter pots. They are now in 6 inch pots instead of 3 inch. Can you believe it? 23......holy cow I am excited. I was getting concerned because they started to get new leaves and they looked yellowish, I noticed the roots coming out of the pots on the bottom and when I transplanted them they have not yet got a full root system, but they needed more good soil, not the coco stuff I use to start them. Also, they need to be sitting in water most of the time. They love to be wet, and I was afraid they were too wet, so, this move will either kill them or cure them. Just had to share this with you all. Hugs.

Shheesh...great job JB!!! I, on the other hand, did not have ONE single bloom this year...NONE...very sad

Oh, Chantell, I am so sorry to hear that. I honestly had the best year for fragrant blooms I have ever had. I am still having buds on all the gardenias and it is so fun to cut them and bring them in and enjoy their beauty for days. The jasmine on the other hand is finally finished blooming and I have some cutting back of them to do today.

Of course, then I stick them in water and root them. LOL Have a wonderful day.

Good point JB....I should stop whining as I had a wonderful year with the jasmines.... maybe next year for the Gardenias...gonna mulch them better this year.

I brought my gardenia in a few days ago and it is going through culture shock...so many yellow leaves! It is supposed to be hardy in this area but it has so many tiny buds on it, I don't want to mess that up! It will need lots of extra lighting I think. After it blooms I could shift it to the cold greenhouse.

Thanks, JB!!!! ;)

Gardenia jasminoides aka Gardenia augusta

Anyone here of this one?????

Hi Dabney. When I was researching Aimee, I found these links You will find them very interesting.

http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/shrubs/gardenia,htm
http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Gardenia_Augusta.htm

There are so many cultivars and unless you have a trained eye, many of them look alike.
Hope this helps. JB

Thanks JB! just read an article stating that the augusta is the one used in perfume making...d

Dabney - the Gardenia augusta is the one I believe, they have carry at our HD's during the spring...