10 named cultivars

shrub

Common Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides

$19.99

The Story

Plant Bio

Gardenia jasminoides is a dense, mounding broadleaf evergreen shrub from southern China, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam, reaching 4 to 8 ft tall and wide. Opposite or whorled leaves are 2 to 4 in long, rugose, glossy dark emerald above and duller beneath, with deeply impressed veins. Growth is medium and multi-stemmed.

The waxy white flowers, 1 to 3 in across, carry one of the strongest fragrances of any hardy shrub, and they age from white to cream-yellow as they fade. Flower buds drop readily when the plant is moved, chilled, dried out or overwatered, which is the single most common complaint about this species.

Uses & Benefits:

Intensely fragrant waxy white flowers over glossy dark evergreen foliage, in flower from late spring into summer.

A container and doorway shrub grown chiefly for scent, useful where fragrance matters more than size.

Flowers attract bees and other pollinators, and birds take the orange fruit where it is allowed to form.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

72 inches

Width

72 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Medium; even moisture, never waterlogged

Humidity

Prefers humid air; dislikes dry indoor heat

Lifespan

Moderate to long; often 20 years or more

Native To

Southern China, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam

Toxicity

No significant toxicity reported

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Plants By Mail

1+ Gal Pot

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Planting

How to Grow

Choose a sheltered site in sun to partial shade, out of cold wind.
Test the soil; it must be acid, ideally pH 5.0 to 6.0.
Plant into rich, well-drained ground high, with the root ball proud.
Mulch with pine bark or leaf mould, kept off the stems.
Water steadily and evenly; both drought and waterlogging drop buds.
Feed with an acid fertiliser after flowering, not in autumn.

Pro Tip

Bud drop is almost always inconsistent watering or a sudden move, not disease; settle the plant and hold moisture even.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep the soil acid and feed with an acid fertiliser 🧪
Water evenly; avoid swings between dry and sodden 💧
Site it near a door or window for the scent 🌸
Check leaf undersides for whitefly regularly 🔍

Don't

Do not move or repot a plant in bud ❌
Do not let alkaline soil or hard water raise the pH ❌
Do not feed late in the season; soft growth will be frosted ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Feed And Prune
Pest Inspection

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Fragrant evergreen beside a door, path or seating areaLarge container on a sheltered patio in colder zonesMassed evergreen in a warm, acid-soil foundation bed

Companion Plants

CamelliaAzalea Japanese pieris Autumn fern Loropetalum

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Common Gardenia questions

What zones can Common Gardenia grow in?

Common Gardenia is hardy in USDA Zones 7–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Common Gardenia deer resistant?

Yes — Common Gardenia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Common Gardenia bloom?

Common Gardenia typically blooms in late spring into summer through mid-summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Common Gardenia need full sun?

Common Gardenia does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.