Gardenias are evergreen shrubs with strongly scented blooms. The heady perfume of gardenias is an intense experience, which is one of the reasons these showy blooms are so popular in bridal bouquets and cut flower displays. Gardenia blooms are also popular for decorating the home; they look fantastic floating in a bowl of water, and the fragrance soon permeates the house. This shrub originated in China and Asia and the stunning flowers can be white, cream/ivory or pale yellow in color and up to 4 inches in diameter. Cape jasmine is a common name for the gardenia shrub.
Growing Gardenias
Gardenias need acidic type soils and warm locations with high humidity. They will need protecting from frosts in winter months. Gardenias thrive in well-drained soil which is improved with organic matter and with a pH level of 5 to 6.5. The best environment for gardenias is a mild and humid climate, as they are sub-tropical plants. Plant gardenias in full sun or light shade for the best flower production. As the scent from these plants can be overpowering, consider the location of your gardenia. You may not wish to plant gardenias too close to frequently-used patio or lounging areas. Miniature gardenias can be grown as houseplants, although it may be difficult to achieve optimum growing conditions.
White Gardenias
White is the most frequent color for gardenia flowers; a number of shrubs bear white flowers. The most common gardenia (Gardenia augusta) produces white flowers up to 3 inches in diameter in the summer. It needs well-drained acidic soil and grows up to 6 feet tall.
Kleim's Hardy daisy gardenia produces masses of single daisy-type white flowers in late spring and early summer. Kleim's Hardy is a strong, vigorous cultivar, which tolerates colder weather conditions.
Cream and Ivory Gardenias
Powder-bark gardenia (Gardenia ternifolia) produces trumpet-shaped flowers, up to 4 inches long, which are creamy-white to yellow in color. This shrub flowers from September to December and is native to Africa.
Yellow Gardenias
The golden gardenia or golden pinwheel gardenia, also known as the Malaysian tree gardenia (Gardenia carinata/coronaria) is native to Thailand and produces golden yellow blooms. This shrub has bright yellow blooms in late spring or early summer and grows to a height of 3 feet. This is a tender perennial, requiring full sun. It is hardy to USDA Zones 10a or 10b. Gardenia carinata can be cultivated as a houseplant.
Sources:
- B Rosie Lerner,"Gardenia, A Gardener's Challenge", Purdue University Extension, December 2004
- National Gardening Association: "Plant Care Guides, Gardenia"
Dawn Denmar - Studying for a BA in Journalism and History, Dawn's innate curiosity about life has led to articles covering a range of topics and ...
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