Gardenia
Gardenia is a genus of evergreen flowering shrubs and trees native to tropical and sub-tropical Australia, Asia and Africa. They are prized for their strong sweet aroma and large flowers.
Gardenia prefer sheltered humid locations, and acidic well-drained soil. Specialized potting mixes are available. They do not tolerate frost. Fertilize well with an organic mix.
Growing Gardenias at Burke’s Backyard
Home Soil Testing: Taking A Sample at Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Gardenia at Clemson University Extension
The Gift Of Flowers at Suite101
Gifts for the gardenia lover:
Gardenia Elizabeth Taylor Perfume
Gardenia Passion Perfume by Annick Goutal
In Your Garden:
Do you have gardenias in your garden? If you do, we’d love to hear your comments on this popular flowering shrub.
March 22nd, 2007
My two potted gardenias have not flowered since a year after trying to look after them. At one stage I sprayed them with Epsom salts solution which seemed to prevent them from being eaten by something. The instructions have been lost, so I can’t remember what strength I had the solution. They have had a recent good dose of Osmocote, but still no flowers have come. I have not left them out in full sun, as I’ve been afraid they would get cooked! The whle thing is a bit depressing! I live in Canberra, so I’ve prevented them from getting hit by frost. please can you help?
March 28th, 2007
We have many gardenias in our garden. They are all in full sun for at least half a day, they only get watered when it rains, and rarely do they get fertiliser. I cut them back quite hard when they get out of hand. However, they bloom constantly and give us much pleasure as their scent comes into the house. We live just north of Brisbane and they don’t get cooked either. They do get some epsom salts occassionally if the leaves go yellow and that works for us. We find them very easy to grow.
April 3rd, 2007
I have a gardenia plant in my garden in North Brisbane. Last year when I planted it it seemed to be going very well green and lots of flower buds, it did not flower, all the buds fell off and has not flowered since, I cut it back quite hard last year as it looked bad, it is very green now, but no flowers. What do you think!!
April 21st, 2007
I have lots of beautiful gardenias … some 6/7 ft tall and full of beautiful flowers. Water stress sometimes causes this problem … I use a thick mulch of old cow *p#%p* … and that is all. Sometimes a fungus will cause the petals to fuse and the flowers cannot open, this is caused by the sun hitting the early morning dew that covers the bud. I can’t speak from experience re commercial fertilizer … but have read that too much can “push” the buds off many plants. Good luck!