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steadfast as She Goes gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides ) . photograph by : Proven Winners .
In the languorous warmth of late fountain and former summer , many gardens in the South are filled with the heady perfume of gardenia plants in peak . But even if you do n’t know in a sultry southerly mood , you may still enjoy the creamy white flowers and intoxicating sweetness of these prominent evergreen bush by reach them the subtropical circumstance they bang .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Gardenia Care|Growing Indoors|Pictures|Design Ideas
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BASICS
Botanical name:
Gardeniaspp . ; the most common garden metal money isG. jasminoides(syn . G. augusta , G. grandiflora )
Common names:
Gardenia or Cape Jasmine
Zones:
8 - 11 ; with a few change hardy to Zone 7
Height/spread:
vertical , spreading , or bushy habit ; 3 to 8 feet tall and wide , depend on the cultivar . midget varieties attain just 6 to 24 inches tall .
Exposure:
Full sun to fond shade , with tribute from live good afternoon Sunday
Bloom period:
May - June , with some sort see sporadic rebloom into fall
Flowers:
Gardenia flowers are typically clean , with single , semi - double , or two-fold blossoms ranging from 2 to 5 inches in diam . Some cultivars , such as ‘ prosperous trick ’ , have pantry chickenhearted blossom .
Foliage:
Glossy , dark light-green leaves 2 to 4 inch long will remain attractive throughout the year .
Are gardenias poisonous?
Gardenias are toxicant to pets and small fry , containing a number of toxic properties including saponin and glycoside .
Are gardenias deer resistant?
Gardenias are regarded as deer - resistant , though cervid may crop on plant they would n’t otherwise if other food sources are scarce .
PLANTING GARDENIAS OUTDOORS
When to plant:
As with many spring - blooming shrubs , dusk is the better metre for planting because it collapse the root system more time to get constitute .
Where to plant:
flora gardenia in a land site that welcome full sun to partial nicety , with protection from hot afternoon Lord’s Day . Provide salutary air circulation ; in cooler climates , protect from hard freezes and drying wintertime winds .
How to plant:
loose soil in the planting area and amend with compost or other rich constitutive affair . leave good drainage . If plants are pot - throttle , gently tease out the roots . Dig a cakehole twice as wide and slightly deep than the root ball and place in the planting hole so the top of the tooth root ballock is at or slimly above ground storey to allow for settle . Fill in the hole with grease , tamp down gently , and water thoroughly . pee flora regularly until established .
For containers:
ensure potty have adequate drainage maw . apply a gamey quality all - purpose potting soil that drain well .
GARDENIA CARE
Gardenias bloom better when planted in well - drained , acidulous territory . picture by : Paul Brennan | Dreamstime .
Temperature and humidity:
The idealistic temperature range for gardenias is 60 - 70 degrees degree Fahrenheit , though they can live down to 15 arcdegree F. Plants may receive stress , damage or failure to develop flower buds in extreme temperatures . gardenia prefer moderate to high humidity of at least 50 % .
Soil:
Gardenia necessity for soil admit expert drainage , amendment with compost or other rich constitutive thing , and an acidic pH of 4.5 - 6.0 . Mulch plants to keep them moist ( but be sure to keep it out from the crown of the plant ) . Gardenias have shallow root systems , so avoid cultivating around the root zone once they are established .
Watering:
gardenia like consistently damp but not sloughy soil , involve about an inch of water per calendar week . container dry out more quickly and will need more frequent tearing , especially during red-hot , dry spells .
Amendments and fertilizer:
In spring , use aslow - release fertilizer formulated for acid - loving plants(such as azaleas ) according to instructions . Look for a preparation that includes Fe and atomic number 12 . Fertilize again in late June . weewee plants well before and after fertilizing . Cease fertilize by nightfall to avoid cold wrong to new increment .
Pruning:
Prune gardenia shrubs in summer after they have finished flower so you do n’t slay any buds . Before pruning , make certain the variety you ’re uprise only rosiness once and has completed its blooming cycle . If it does blossom more than once , prune off fade peak just below the folio node to encourage repeat blooming .
Pests and diseases:
Gardenias are susceptible to several pests , includingwhiteflies , mealybugs , scale , aphidsandspider mites . Diseases includepowdery mildew , anthracnose , coal-black mould , or leaf spot . For guidance on ascertain and troubleshooting these problem , seeGardenia Insects & Related PestsandGardenia Diseases and Other Problemsfrom the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service .
GROWING GARDENIAS INDOORS
Gardenias are popular houseplant for their attractive flowers , foliage and odorous scent . exposure by : Steffen Hauser / botanikfoto / Alamy Stock Photo .
“ A gardenia is not the easy plant to bring into peak [ indoors ] , though plants that are happy with their post will often flower in late spring and again in the fall . In between , they enjoy spending the summer outdoors in a suspicious spot , ” says Barbara Pleasant , source ofThe Complete Houseplant Survival Manual .
Growing conditions:
Unless you have a greenhouse or sun lounge , it will be difficult to give indoor plants enough sunlight and humidness to produce flower buds . Pleasant advocate placing plant in a Dixie - face window where they will have at least four hours of sunlight day by day , but not strong midday sun . To increase humidness , place a humidifier in the way or place your passel in a tray of damp pebbles . coolheaded nighttime temperature ( 60 degrees F ) and warm daytime temperature ( 75 degrees F ) will promote full efflorescence .
Use a well - drained , acidic soil , such as a admixture of 2 parts pot soil and 1 part peat moss .
Keep soil evenly moist at all prison term , but do not overwater or allow puddling .
Fertilizing:
give every two weeks with a balanced houseplant fertiliser that contains micronutrient , peculiarly iron , or utilise a tedious - release azalea fertiliser . A lack of iron or a soil that ’s too alkaline can lead to yellowing leaves .
Repotting:
Repot new plant annually in later wintertime until the roots fill 8 - inch pots , then repot every two age to refresh the stain .
Alternative houseplant:
If you fight to grow gardenias , tryMitriostigma axillare , the African gardenia , with sweet - scented flowers that bloom all twelvemonth . Many gardeners happen it very leisurely to like for .
GARDENIA VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners
STEADY AS SHE GOES ® —Buy now from Proven Winners
Zones:7 - 10Habit : Upright spread out habitSize:3 to 5 feet tall , 4 to 7 base wideBloom time : Spring to frost
heyday are produce continuously over an exceptionally recollective meter . Plants are heat and inhuman tolerant , with blossom buds more resistant to dropping off due to bad weather condition . The pure white treble blossom are complemented by glossy green foliation . employ this larger shrub in a foundation planting , or as a stand - alone specimen .
PILLOW TALK ® —Buy now from Proven winner
Zones:7 - 10Habit : mound habitSize:30 to 42 inches tall , 36 to 48 inches wideBloom time : Spring
Bring life to any garden with the thick , glow white bloom of Pillow Talk ® that blanket its calendered evergreen foliage each bound . Its compendious , wider - than - tall form is perfect for border fronts , allowing leisurely enjoyment of its spicy , flowered aroma . This intrepid plant offers year - round interestingness , is warmth tolerant , and resists deer .
" It ’s well-situated to care for in a container and its slow ontogenesis pee its size easy to maintain . I also love the sweetness , and the saturnine light-green , shiny leaves really stand out and provided a nice direct contrast with swooning foliage plants . " — Sean , Spoken Garden
pic by :
' WHITE GEM '
Zones:8 - 11Habit : Compact habitSize:1 to 2 animal foot tall and wideBloom sentence : tardy outpouring to summer
‘ White Gem ’ is the top jewel of dwarf gardenia for get indoors because it only pass a height of 1 to 2 understructure . This slow grower is adorn with daisy - comparable white bloom with lily-livered center field that exude a warm sweetness . Use in containers and smaller place .
Photo by : R Ann Kautzky / Alamy Stock Photo
' VEITCHII '
Zones:8 - 11Habit : Upright habitSize:4 feet tall , 3 feet wideBloom time : recent natural spring to strike
This reliable ever - blooming gardenia yields gross lily-white , rosiness - corresponding flowers from bound into fall and will extend blooming throughout the year when keep in a warm environment , such as a greenhouse or sunroom . Protect from hot afternoon sun in southern climate . Grow as a container specimen or endure - alone accent , as hedging or in aggregated plantings .
pic by : Matt Howard / Shutterstock
' FROSTPROOF '
Zones:7 - 11Habit : Upright habitSize:4 to 5 foundation tall , 3 to 4 ft wideBloom time : Early to late summer
Known for its cold tolerance , ‘ Frostproof ’ is hardier than most other gardenias , with good resistivity to late freeze damage . The double white flowers have a rose - corresponding appearing . Use for evade , mixed borders , foundation plantings , or as a container specimen . Protect from red-hot afternoon sun in hotter climates to prevent folio scorch and bud bead - off .
Photo by : Lucia Barabino / Pixabay
' KLEIM ‘S HARDY '
Zones:7 - 11Habit : Mounding bushy habitSize:2 to 3 invertebrate foot improbable and wideBloom prison term : Late spring through summer
Also acquire for its frigid underground , ‘ Kleim ’s Hardy ’ has a smaller mounding habit , with fragrant white-hot single blossom . In cold orbit , plants bloom from mid spring to early summertime , while in warmer areas , they may flower all year . Use in containers and small spaces .
Photo by : Weerawat Trinerachanon / Dreamstime
' RADICANS '
Zones:8 - 11Habit : Low spread habitSize:6 to 12 inch tall , 12 to 36 in wideBloom time : recent leap to early summer
From late spring through early summer , plants are encompass with dainty 1 - inch treble white flowers , set off by shiny dark - gullible leaves . This dwarf spreading type is ideal for use as a fragrant cower groundcover , along pathways , or for mold into a bonsai Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Photo by : Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
' whodunit '
Zones:8 - 11Habit : vertical bushy habitSize:6 to 8 feet tall and wideBloom clip : Late bounce to fall
In addition to its enticing name , ‘ Mystery ’ is noted for its tremendous double snowy roselike flower , which sweep 4 to 5 inches across . This attractive rounded bush blossom from mid springtime through early summer , with sporadic flowering into fall . expend this enceinte variety as privacy cover , hedging , or a stand - alone specimen in the landscape painting .
DESIGN IDEAS
A gardenia produce in front of a classical statue . pic by : John Glover / Alamy Stock Photo .
See more fragrant plants to grow:20 Fragrant Flowering works
Related : Southern GardensTropical Gardens
