How to Grow Gardenias

Published

July 27, 2022

Author

Searles Gardening Team

If you like brilliant white flowers with delightful fragrance, then you should consider planting Gardenias. With a little care these plants will flourish in most gardens, rewarding you with lush deep green foliage and sweet perfumed white flowers year after year.

VARIETIES OF GARDENIAS

‍Gardenias come in a variety of different styles and all of them have dark green foliage with white flowers. The main highlight of gardenias is the captivating perfume.

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‍Gardenia varieties to try

‍Gardenia augusta 'Florida' - A gardeners favourite gardenia. Highly fragrant, easy to grow, ideal for pots, grows to 1m high.

Gardenia augusta 'Radicans' - low, spreading variety, producing double white flowers on dark glossy leaves.

Gardenia augusta 'True Love' - Large flower. More resistant to pests and diseases.

Gardenia augusta 'Magnifica' - Larger variety. Grows to 2m in height. Large perfumed, double blooms with glossy lime coloured leaves.

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‍SOIL & POSITION FOR GARDENIAS

‍Depending upon the variety, gardenias require a semi-shade to full sun position. Gardenias grow well in warmer conditions and dislike frost. Check with your local garden centre, so they can advise the best variety to suit your garden and climate.Gardenias require pH range from acidic to just on neutral of about 5.5 to 6.5. As well as this, they also require a well-drained soil rich in organic matter. To improve the soil before planting, dig in Searles Azalea & Camellia Specialty Mix and also add some Searles Azalea & Camellia Plant Food.

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‍GARDENIAS FOR POTS

‍Gardenias also grow very well in pots and make great feature plants. The added advantage of growing them in pots is that they are easy to move about, and when in flower can be shifted to an area where the beautiful fragrance will be most appreciated.When planting into pots, plant up with Searles Azalea & Camellia Specialty mix.

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‍FEEDING & PRUNING GARDENIAS‍

Gardenias respond well to feeding and pruning. Once pruned they will burst with new growth. To fertilise, use Searles Flourish for Azaleas, Camellias & Gardenias.

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