| Jasminum sambac ‘Flore Plena’ | ||
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| This is the name under which I acquired it and I have stuck with it in case it is offered elsewhere under the same name. It is often sold in SE Asia as J.sambac Grand Duke of Tuscany which it is not as it has a more open and looser petal structure. However it is a double- double and has a most attractive arrangement of petals. The leaves are very slightly larger than GDT but in all other respects it is identical except in flower shape. The buds are held upright and are round but never flatten out like a cabbage as GDT does. The petals are looser and there is a space in the centre where a small pointed ‘heart’ remains similar to J.sambac Bangkok Peony but not quite as beautiful to my mind as it lacks the symmetry that Bangkok Peony has which is almost perfect like a lotus. However the scent of Flore Plena is superb and matches many of the sambac varieties and has the characteristic powerful heavy scent that is unmistakably tropical Jasmine. |