Are you looking for a plant to add to your home or garden that is beautiful and has a strong fragrance? Gardenias may be the perfect plant for you! These plants are easy to grow and produce spectacular white blooms, but do require some special care if you are growing them in a colder region. Keep reading for tips on how to grow and care for gardenia plants, cultivar selection, and disease and pest prevention, and more. Happy gardening!
The hardest part about growing gardenias is probably choosing one. There are so many great options on the market that will fit a variety of needs. Learn about 15 excellent gardenia options, from those that bloom nearly year-round to some that can tolerate cold climates, and ones that are perfect for pots.
Prized for their fragrant white flowers, gardenias grown outdoors need extra attention but will respond with multitudes of blooms and a spicy scent. Our guide explains how to grow traditional types and newer cold-hardy hybrids. Start with healthy plants and water, fertilize, and prune your way to a bonanza of blooms.
Unexpected bad weather or long periods of low temperatures can cause cold damage to outdoor gardenias. Will your flowering shrub survive? This guide tells how to assess the damage, when to prune, and how long to wait for new growth before giving up on your plant. It includes ways to prevent frost damage, too.
Fragrant gardenias will grow and even bloom indoors, but only if you pay close attention to their requirements. These include humid air, ample sunlight, and temperatures between 60 and 75°F. Our guide shares tips that will help indoor gardeners grow and care for these evergreen flowering shrubs as houseplants.
When you garden in an area where gardenia shrubs are not cold hardy, you can keep them alive and flowering year-round by overwintering them indoors. This guide explains how to protect gardenias from frost, when to move them inside ahead of freezing temperatures, and how to care for them indoors during the cold months.