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Learn How to Grow and Care for Your Gardenia

Growing Gardenias, Caring for Gardenias, Planting Gardenias

gardenia, flowers, gardenias, common gardenia, gardenia blossom, gardenia flowers, Gardenia jasminoides, Double flowered gardenia, Single flowered gardenia, single flowers, gardenia species, gardenia blossom Double, gardenia blossom Single

Beloved for their intoxicating fragrance and attractive, waxy, creamy-white flowers contrasting beautifully with their shiny, leathery, dark green leaves, Gardenias are irresistible heat-loving evergreen shrubs or trees. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia, and Oceania, Gardenias are not the easiest shrubs to grow, but their exquisite fragrant flowers make up for the extra attention they require.

Gardenia Requirements

Gardenias are beautiful subtropical plants that may be fussy and quite temperamental in their cultural needs. To grow them with success, make sure you follow the below requirements.

  • Select a site with full sun to light shade. Although a Gardenia plant prefers full sun, some shade is appreciated during the warmer months of the year, or its leaves may scorch, and its buds may fall off if they get too much sunlight. In hot climates, Gardenias grow best with morning sun and afternoon shade. In cooler areas, they can tolerate full sun, especially if their roots are covered with organic mulch. Gardenias growing in containers need a bright light or filtered shade with no direct sun. Gardenias grown indoors should receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight through a sunny window.
  • Make sure your Gardenia soil is moist and well-drained. Gardenias need at least 1 inch of rain (or equivalent watering) each week. Keep the soil consistently damp but not soggy. Don’t let the soil dry out and don’t over-water your Gardenias or the flower buds will not open and may even drop off. Apply a 2-4 in. layer of organic mulch (5-10 cm) to maintain the soil moist and keep a constant soil temperature. To drain away excess fertilizer salts in the soil, water with distilled water once a month.

Guide Information

Hardiness 6 - 11
Heat Zones 8 - 12
Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Genus Gardenia
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Birds
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Buttons’ (Cape Jasmine)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frostproof’ (Cape Jasmine)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ (Cape Jasmine)
  • Gardenias prefer acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. Avoid planting gardenias near a concrete wall or foundation where the pH may be too high for optimum growth.
  • Gardenias like soil that is rich in nutrients. Add plenty of organic matter to the soil, such as peat moss or manure, to enhance the growth of your plant.
  • Gardenias perform best in day temperatures of 65-70°F (18-21°C) and night temperatures of 60-65°F (15-18°C). Flower buds will fail to form if the ideal temperature for Gardenias is not respected!
  • Gardenias demand high humidity to thrive. Provide extra moisture with daily misting, set the plant on a tray of moist pebbles, and/or use a humidifier. Extra humidity is important in keeping down spider mites that thrive under dry conditions.
Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’ (Cape Jasmine)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Fortuniana’ (Cape Jasmine)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Golden Magic’ (Cape Jasmine)
  • Fertilize Gardenias every 2-4 weeks during their growing season (March to October) with a dilute fertilizer for acid-loving plants. Do not fertilize from November to February.
  • Cut off the faded Gardenia flowers just below the leaf node to encourage continuous blooming.
  • Check regularly for white flies and mealybugs, using a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to control these pests.
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Belmont’ (Cape Jasmine)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Chuck Hayes’ (Cape Jasmine)
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Veitchii’ (Everblooming Gardenia)
  • Prune/shape your Gardenia plant when it is dormant to promote branching and compact growth
  • When transplanting Gardenias, use a soil mixture of two parts peat moss, one part sterilized houseplant potting soil, and one part sand or perlite.
  • Propagate Gardenias in early spring with 3-4 in. (7-10 cm) stem cuttings just below a leaf node. Dip the end of the stem cuttings into a rooting hormone, place it into a light mix of soil with perlite, and keep it moist. Transplant the rooted cuttings into 3 in. (7 cm) pots with the preferred growing mix as described above.

Click here to compare all Gardenias

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 6 - 11
Heat Zones 8 - 12
Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Genus Gardenia
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Birds
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
Compare All Gardenia
Compare Now
Guides with
Gardenia

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    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

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