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Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) is also known as cape jasmine and is an evergreen shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet, depending upon the cultivar. Spread is usually about the same as the height. The foliage of well-fed shrubs is glossy, dark-green, 2- to 4-inches long and half as wide.
How tall do gardenias grow?
Plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, with a strong upright shape. Gardenia is an evergreen shrub, typically hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 11, that’s beloved for intoxicatingly fragrant, creamy white flowers and thick, glossy leaves.
Do gardenias grow fast?
Gardenia Growing Rate Kauai Seascapes Nursery reports that slow growers add 12 inches or less each year, moderate growers add 1 to 2 feet each year, while fast growers can average more than 2 feet each year. When grown from seed, gardenias will take about two to three years to start flowering.
Where is the best place to plant a Gardenia bush?
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.
Can gardenias stay small?
Gardenia plants usually grow from 2 to 12 ft tall and wide (60 – 360 cm), depending on the variety. Here is the list of the most popular dwarf Gardenia cultivars. They are excellent in low borders, as scented groundcovers and great for containers.
Do gardenias grow back every year?
Gardenias are perennial evergreen shrubs and small trees. These plants enjoy direct sunlight and average temperatures of 68 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Depending on the climate and growing conditions, some gardenia plants act like an annual.
Do gardenias like sun or shade?
Gardenias perform best when they receive intense morning light and shade from the hot afternoon sun. Sun exposure is necessary for proper flower bud development – with too little sun plants will produce leggy growth and few flowers. On the other hand, too much sun can cause blooms to fade quickly.
How do you make my gardenias grow faster?
Gardenias grow the fastest when they get plenty of early and mid-morning shade in warmer climates. In hot climates, they require placement with at least partial shade during the mid-day or their growth may slow down. In cool climates, Gardenias do the best when planted where the full sun beams down directly on them.
What is the fastest growing gardenia?
Frostproof gardenia is a fast-growing, perennial, evergreen, flowering shrub. Records show that the plant was first propagated in England in 1757 and in the U.S. in 1762.
How long does it take for gardenias to bloom?
What’s the Blossom Time for Gardenia? The Gardenia plant produces flower buds in late spring to early summer, even early fall depending on the type of Gardenia variety. They take 2-3 years to bloom from seeds and about a year when grown from cuttings.
What side of house do you plant a gardenia?
North and east-facing exposures are ideal because the plants will receive bright morning light and some midday light, but won’t be in full sun during the hottest part of the day. While gardenias make beautiful additions to borders, they don’t like to be crowded by other plants or competing roots.
Is gardenia indoor or outdoor plant?
Gardenias are cold-sensitive and may die during severe winters, therefore, gardenias are typically grown outdoors where the winter weather is reasonably tolerable, or grown in pots and moved indoors for winter. Fall or spring is the most suitable time for planting the gardenia bush.
How do you keep gardenias blooming?
How to Maximize Gardenia Blooms Feed your plants. Gardenias use a lot of nutrients to produce so many glorious blossoms. Provide plenty of moisture. Water is essential for flower development. Prune at the right time. Gardenias produce flower buds in late summer and fall for the next year’s blooms. Combat Bud Drop.
How big do miniature gardenias get?
Moderate growing; reaches 6 to 12 in. tall, spreading 24 to 36 in. wide. With its fine texture and traveling habit, this Gardenia is a wonderful scented groundcover.
Which is the smallest gardenia?
Dwarf Radicans Gardenias are the most adaptable and fragrant dwarf shrubs you can find. You get citrusy-scented blooms, but on a space-saving shrub that gets just 2 feet tall! Use it as a border plant or in a container. You can even grow it in front of larger shrubs as a fragrant ground cover.
Do gardenias come in different sizes?
There are more than 200 gardenia varieties, ranging in size from dwarf and groundcover cultivars to shrubs reaching eight feet in height and spread. Depending on the cultivar, the flowers can be either single or double and range from two to four inches in diameter. All gardenia varieties have fragrant flowers.
Will gardenias come back after winter?
Baby the plant that season with supplemental water and good fertilizing practices. Monitor it for the slightest pest or disease, which could fell the gardenia in its weakened state. In most cases, when a gardenia gets too cold, it will recover in spring or within a year or two if the damage is severe.
Will gardenias grow back?
A sudden winter freeze frequently kills gardenias back to the ground, and as long as the freeze is not prolonged, gardenias will sprout again in spring. Rejuvenation pruning allows you to transform a once-leggy plant into a compact, leafy specimen.
What do you do with gardenias in the winter?
On the fringes of the recommended climate zones, you can protect gardenias in winter by covering them with a blanket or cardboard box during brief cold snaps. A cardboard box large enough to cover the shrub without bending the branches is a must when temperatures drop.
Where should I put a potted gardenia?
Place the gardenia in a sunny spot outdoors. Gardenias thrive in temperatures above 73 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will do well outside. If temperatures drop below 55 F, bring the pot inside, and place it in an areas that receives at least eight hours of indirect sunlight.
Do Gardenias like coffee grounds?
In addition to amending the soil with compost or aged manure, these acid-loving plants will appreciate coffee grounds, tea bags, wood ashes, or Epsom salts mixed into the soil as well. Since they are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium, coffee grounds are oftentimes a more favorable homemade gardenia fertilizer.
Can gardenias tolerate shade?
Gardenias love and need heat, especially at their feet, and except in the hottest climates, they can’t get it growing in the shade.
