Gardenias are celebrated for their luminous, often double flowers and an intense, sweet fragrance that fills the air, particularly in the evening. These plants belong to the Rubiaceae family and are evergreen shrubs known for their glossy, dark green leaves that provide a striking backdrop to the white or creamy blooms. Their flowers are not just visually appealing but are also used in perfumery, adding a rich, floral note to fragrances.
Cultivating gardenias requires attention to their specific needs, particularly their preference for acidic, well-drained soil and a warm, humid climate. They thrive in partial shade, where they can avoid the harshness of direct sunlight which can scorch their leaves, yet receive enough light to promote flowering. Gardenias are sensitive to both cold and drought, necessitating regular watering without waterlogging, and protection from frost in cooler climates.
Gardenias can be a challenging yet rewarding addition to any garden or indoor space. Their blooms attract pollinators like moths at night with their fragrance, and their evergreen nature provides year-round interest. However, they are susceptible to pests like aphids and diseases if not properly cared for, requiring vigilant monitoring and preventive care to maintain their health and encourage repeat blooming throughout the season.
Types of Gardenia Varieties
Aimee Yoshioka (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Aimee Yoshioka’)
Known for its large, double blooms that can reach up to 5 inches across, Aimee Yoshioka gardenia is a showpiece in any garden. Its flowers are intensely fragrant and bloom from late spring to early summer. This variety can grow into a substantial shrub, reaching up to 12 feet in height, making it suitable for hedges or as a specimen plant.
August Beauty (Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’)
August Beauty is one of the most popular gardenia varieties due to its long blooming period, from late spring through summer. It has large, double flowers and a compact growth habit, typically reaching 4 to 6 feet. Its glossy leaves and heavy blooms make it an excellent choice for borders or container gardening in warmer zones.
Kleim’s Hardy (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Kleim’s Hardy’)
This variety is celebrated for its cold hardiness, capable of surviving in USDA Zone 7 with protection. Kleim’s Hardy features smaller, single-petaled flowers and a more compact growth, reaching about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Its hardiness makes it a favorite for gardeners in cooler climates looking to enjoy gardenias outdoors.
Radicans (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’)
Known for its low, spreading growth habit, Radicans is ideal for ground cover or as a potted plant. It grows only to about 1 to 2 feet in height but can spread up to 3 feet. Its small, single white flowers bloom in summer, offering a delicate fragrance without the bulk of taller gardenias.
Mystery (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Mystery’)
Mystery gardenia boasts large, double, 4- to 5-inch flowers that bloom from spring to fall. It’s named for its seemingly mysterious ability to bloom repeatedly. Growing up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it’s a great choice for adding fragrance to patios or garden seating areas.
First Love (Gardenia jasminoides ‘First Love’)
This cultivar is one of the earliest bloomers in spring, with large, double flowers that make it perfect for cut arrangements as well as garden displays. It grows to about 5 feet tall with a spread of 3 feet, offering a compact yet lush appearance.
Crown Jewel (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Crown Jewel’)
A relatively new variety, Crown Jewel combines the cold hardiness of ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ with the bloom size of ‘Chuck Hayes’. It features large, double flowers and glossy foliage, growing to about 3 to 4 feet. It’s well-suited for both container and landscape use.
Buttons (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Buttons’)
Buttons gardenia offers small, semi-double flowers about 2 inches across, which are as fragrant as larger blooms. This compact variety, reaching only 3 feet, is perfect for smaller spaces or as part of a mixed border.
Frost Proof (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frost Proof’)
As its name suggests, Frost Proof is designed to withstand colder temperatures, making it suitable for zone 7. It has a mounded growth habit, reaching about 3 to 5 feet, with single white flowers. This variety is low maintenance and blooms prolifically.
Belmont (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Belmont’)
Belmont gardenia features large, dark leaves and equally impressive blooms, making it an attractive option for both indoor and outdoor settings. It grows to around 5 feet and is known for its lush foliage and fragrant, double flowers.
Veitchii (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Veitchii’)
Veitchii is appreciated for its long bloom season, from mid-spring to fall, with small to medium-sized double flowers. Its compact form, growing to about 4 feet, makes it a good candidate for container gardens or as a hedge.
Miami Supreme (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Miami Supreme’)
This variety is known for its large, double flowers and can be cultivated to grow either as a shrub or trained into a small tree form. It’s particularly noted for its ability to bloom into the fall, providing a long season of fragrance and beauty. It grows to about 6 to 8 feet with proper care.
Chuck Hayes (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Chuck Hayes’)
Chuck Hayes gardenia is renowned for its very large, double flowers that can be up to 5 inches across. Its bloom time extends from late spring through summer, and it grows to around 4 to 6 feet tall. This variety is prized for its exceptional fragrance and is often used in landscapes where a bold statement is desired.
Golden Magic (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Golden Magic’)
Unique among gardenias, Golden Magic has variegated foliage with yellow margins, adding a splash of color even when not in bloom. It produces white, double flowers in spring to early summer and grows to about 3 to 4 feet. Its variegation makes it an interesting choice for mixed plantings.
Grif’s Select (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Grif’s Select’)
This variety is noted for its hardiness and compact growth, reaching about 3 feet in height. It has large, double, fragrant flowers from spring into summer. Grif’s Select is particularly appreciated for its ability to bloom reliably in cooler climates.
White Gem (Gardenia jasminoides ‘White Gem’)
White Gem is one of the smaller gardenias, growing to only about 2 feet tall, making it ideal for container gardens or as a border plant. It offers small but very fragrant, single flowers in summer, providing a delightful scent in compact spaces.
Lynn Lowrey (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Lynn Lowrey’)
Lynn Lowrey features large, double flowers and is known for its extended bloom period into the fall. This gardenia grows to 5 to 6 feet and is perfect for those looking for a plant with both beauty and fragrance over an extended season.
Daisy (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Daisy’)
As the name suggests, Daisy gardenia has small, daisy-like flowers that are single and less fragrant than some other varieties but still charming. It’s a smaller plant, reaching about 2 to 3 feet, and is excellent for mass planting or in pots where space is at a premium.
Klein’s Select (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Klein’s Select’)
A cousin to Kleim’s Hardy, Klein’s Select is slightly larger, growing to about 4 feet, and is also noted for its cold hardiness. It has large, single, fragrant flowers. This variety is well-suited for gardeners looking for a hardy gardenia with a more substantial presence.
Shooting Star (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Shooting Star’)
This variety is relatively new and features uniquely shaped flowers with long, pointed petals that resemble shooting stars. It blooms in spring with a compact growth habit, making it suitable for smaller gardens or as a potted plant.
Pinwheel (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Pinwheel’)
Pinwheel gardenia has flowers with twisted, pinwheel-like petals, adding an unusual twist to the traditional gardenia look. It grows to about 3 to 4 feet and blooms in summer, offering both visual interest and the classic gardenia fragrance.
Magnoliaeflora (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Magnoliaeflora’)
Known for its large, single flowers that resemble those of a magnolia, this variety grows to about 6 feet. It blooms late spring to early summer, providing a different aesthetic with its simpler but elegant flower form.
Heaven Scent (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Heaven Scent’)
As suggested by its name, Heaven Scent is known for its exceptionally strong fragrance. It has medium-sized, double blooms and grows to approximately 4 to 5 feet. It’s a great choice for gardens where the sensory experience is as important as the visual.
Jubilation (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Jubilation’)
Jubilation gardenia is a dwarf variety with a compact growth habit, reaching up to 3 feet in height. It’s celebrated for its resistance to cold and its ability to bloom profusely with fragrant, double flowers from spring through summer. Its smaller size and resilience make it a favorite for both container and garden bed use.