Cape jessamine Gardenia jasminoides
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gardenia augusta
- Gardenia florida
- Gardenia grandiflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- gar-DEE-nee-ah jaz-min-OY-deez
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Gardenias are a woody, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the Rubiaceae (coffee) family. They originated along the stream banks of Southern China and Japan. The plant is named for Alexander Garden, a Scottish naturalist.
Gardenias prefer bright indirect sunlight or partial shade. Sheltering from the cold and from strong winds should be considered to prevent winter burn. They are moderately drought-tolerant. Plant in rich, acidic, well-drained soil. Avoid competition from tree roots as gardenias have shallow roots and do not do well with root disturbance. Prune gardenias in the spring to maintain the shape of the plant, keeping in mind that blossoms will appear on new growth. Remove the spent flowers to encourage blooming. Do not fertilize in the fall as this will cause a rush of frost-tender growth. Propagate gardenias by grafting, layering, seed, or stem cutting.
Gardenias can be grown as a houseplant, or can be planted outside in a container or in the landscape. It is renowned for its fragrant, showy, creamy white flowers, and its lustrous dark, emerald green foliage. A gardenia would enhance any pollinator, sensory, nighttime, or children’s garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Buds are pinwheel or spiral looking.
- Leaves are rugose and dark green, with impressed veins. They are opposite and whorled at the branch tips.
- It is a medium shrub, 4 to 8 feet tall and wide.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whiteflies can be a problem on stressed plants. If planted near a concrete walk or foundation, soil may be too alkaline for good growth.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common gardenia diseases and other problems.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pond and Stream
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'August Beauty'
4 to 6 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide with 3" wide double flowers
'Crown Jewel'
- ‘Fortuniana’
A double-flowered cultivar. - 'Frostproof'
- 'Lynn Lowrey'
- 'Michael'
- 'Mystery'
4 to 5-inch double white flowers
'Radicans'
- 'Veitchii'
4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It has double flowers with a long bloom period.
very fragrant 3" wide double flowers, more cold hardy than most cultivars
highly fragrant double white flowers, more cold hardy than most cultivars 'Kleim's Hardy'
hardy to 10 °F and grows to 3 feet tall and wide with single flowers in summer.
dwarf, ground cover, growing 6 to 18 inches high and spreading 2 to 3 feet 'Scentsation'
Very fragrant. - 'August Beauty'
- 'August Beauty', 'Crown Jewel', ‘Fortuniana’, 'Frostproof', 'Jubilation', 'Kleim's Hardy', 'Lynn Lowrey', 'Michael', 'Mystery', 'Radicans', 'Scentsation', 'Veitchii'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'August Beauty'
4 to 6 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide with 3" wide double flowers
'Crown Jewel'
- ‘Fortuniana’
A double-flowered cultivar. - 'Frostproof'
- 'Lynn Lowrey'
- 'Michael'
- 'Mystery'
4 to 5-inch double white flowers
'Radicans'
- 'Veitchii'
4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It has double flowers with a long bloom period.
very fragrant 3" wide double flowers, more cold hardy than most cultivars
highly fragrant double white flowers, more cold hardy than most cultivars 'Kleim's Hardy'
hardy to 10 °F and grows to 3 feet tall and wide with single flowers in summer.
dwarf, ground cover, growing 6 to 18 inches high and spreading 2 to 3 feet 'Scentsation'
Very fragrant. - 'August Beauty'
- 'August Beauty', 'Crown Jewel', ‘Fortuniana’, 'Frostproof', 'Jubilation', 'Kleim's Hardy', 'Lynn Lowrey', 'Michael', 'Mystery', 'Radicans', 'Scentsation', 'Veitchii'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gardenia
- Species:
- jasminoides
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The yellow dye extracted from the fruit is used to dye food and clothes. The fruit is also used in Chinese herbal medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern China, Taiwan. Japan, and Vietnam
- Wildlife Value:
- Gardenia hips attract birds and other wildlife. Attracts pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2-3 inch waxy flowers that are white to cream and age to yellow. Very fragrant, white, can be double, 2-3" diameter. Calyx lobes are subulate.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite or whorled with dark emerald color and are 2-4 inches long. They have prominent pinnate veining. Whorled or opposite arrangement, 2-4" long. Rugose, glossy and dark green above, lighter and duller below. Margin is entire, veins impressed.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Does not have a showy bark texture.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Pinwheel or spiral looking.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
