Gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis
Also called gardenia, cape jasmine.
Glossy evergreen shrub with intensely fragrant white flowers in late spring. Best near patios and windows where the scent carries.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 1–1.8 m (3–6 ft) tall and 1–1.8 m (3–6 ft) wide; medium growth, about 6 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the #3 install size.
Bloom
White flowers, May–Jun (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardenia : May–Jun |
Design notes
- Needs acidic soil; yellow leaves on alkaline soil signal iron deficiency.
- Whiteflies and sooty mould are common; hardier cultivars extend it into zone 7.
Regions
Native range: Southern China and Southeast Asia.
Not recorded as native to any of the three pilot regions.
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Gardenia
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.