The difference between dogtooth flower and gardenia

Dogtooth flower and gardenia belong to different families

There are obvious differences between Dogtooth Flower and Gardenia in terms of family.

Dogtooth violet is a plant of the genus Dogtooth violet in the Apocynaceae family.

Gardenia is a plant of the genus Gardenia in the Rubiaceae family.

The branches and leaves of dogtooth flower and gardenia are different

Dogtooth shrub or small tree, except for the calyx which is hairy, the rest of the flowers are hairless. Leaves are opposite, hard, papery, elliptical or oblong.

Gardenia is an evergreen shrub, about 1-3 meters tall, with gray branches and twigs with green and scaly hairs. The leaves are simple, opposite or in whorls of three, obovate and leathery.

Dogtooth flower and gardenia have different appearances

The edges of the petals of Dog's Tooth Flower are wrinkled. The flowers of Dog's Tooth Flower are smaller in shape, and the buds are white. The inflorescences of Dog's Tooth Flower are axillary, and there are often six to ten flowers on the top of the branches when it blooms.

The wrinkles on the edges of gardenia's petals are not obvious. In terms of flower shape, gardenia, especially double-petaled gardenia, is much larger. The buds of gardenia are greener than those of dogtooth gardenia, and the flowers are solitary at the top of branches or in the axils of leaves.

The scent of dogtooth flower and gardenia is different

The scent of dogtooth violet is lighter than that of gardenia, and its scent is similar to that of jasmine.

However, it is best not to smell this flower up close, as the overly strong fragrance can make people feel dizzy.

The fruits of dogtooth flower and gardenia are different

The follicles of Dogtooth Flower are forked or curved, containing 3-6 seeds, which are oblong and have no seed hairs. The flowering period is from June to November, and the fruiting period is autumn.

Gardenia has many seeds, which are flat, nearly round and slightly angular, about 3.5 mm long and 3 mm wide. The flowering period is from March to July, and the fruiting period is from May to February of the following year.

The growth habits of dogtooth flower and gardenia are different

Dogtooth shrub is not cold-resistant, and potted dogtooth shrubs need to be moved into a greenhouse for maintenance in winter, while gardenia is relatively cold-resistant.