Common Gardenia, Cape Jasmine, or Cape Jessamine
Gardenia jasminoides (RUBIACEAE)
Planting and Growing Common Gardenia
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, berries, and seeds of common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- Growing conditions for common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- When and where to plant common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- How to plant common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- How to shape, prune and control growth of common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- Landscape uses of common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
- Pest and disease control for common gardenia, Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine
Growing Common Gardenia
One species of more than 140 species in the madder family of slow-growing, bushy, evergreen shrubs, to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall, with shiny, dark green, thick, oval, veined leaves, 3–4 in. (75–100 mm) long. It is native to China.
Common Gardenia Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Very fragrant, white, yellow, often double-petaled flowers, 2–3-1/2-in. (50–90-mm) wide, in autumn–winter, form round, seedy berries in spring.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 8–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average. Add acidic compost or leaf mold. 4.5–5.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Partial shade. Space 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep evenly moist. Limit watering in summer. Fertilize in spring. Pinch off buds until early autumn. Deadhead blooms and suckers. Prune after bloom. Protect from sun in hot climates, frost in zone 8. Propagate by cuttings.
About This Species
Good choice for containers, hedges, paths in informal, rock, water gardens. Good for cutting. Aphid, mealybug, spider mite, scale susceptible.