Beautiful Gardenias

Gardenias are very popular but are often an overlooked option by landscapers. You can plant gardenias yourself and enjoy the large ornamental blooms that can last even through the winter months.

Gardenias are most popular in the southern states but are also frequently seen in northern areas. Gardenias have dark green leaves with contrasting bright blooms. They really stand out in the crowd. The gardenia shrub is an evergreen. The dark green leaves are glossy, full and sturdy. So the gardenia makes a great shrubbery or small tree to have in your landscaping.

The blooms are very fragrant and are sometimes desired solely for their aroma. The blooms are white or light yellow and contrast nicely against their deep green background. Gardenias bloom in late spring or summer. The blooms can last for months, even through the winter months in milder southern climates.

Many people choose gardenias as the background in their landscaping plans and have various bulb flowers that pop up at different times throughout the year to keep flowers almost year round. This is another thing that makes gardenias so popular with hotels and antebellum homes where landscaping is part of the allure or even the main attraction.

Gardenias love full sun in cooler climates and partial shade in the southernmost states. Extreme heat can kill a gardenia or cause it not to bloom. Gardenias grow best and fullest in humid environments or indoors. Keep gardenias watered, just be careful not to overwater them. The soil should be kept acidic, so use an acidic fertilizer in the spring and summer months. Gardenias can be very temperamental, especially if you attempt to relocate them.

Another way to keep the soil acidic is to work pine needles or pine mulch into the soil before you plant. Allowing these materials to partially decompose in the soil will help the acidity. Coffee grounds are also helpful. If you have time to prepare the area for several weeks, you can work in pine products, coffee grounds and water liberally to accelerate decomposition. If you do not want to work with the soil for an extended period of time, you can purchase sulfur or sulfates at your local nursery to lower the pH of your soil. If you use your water hose to water your gardenia and the water is alkaline, you may want to use acidic fertilizers and sulfur about once a year to keep soil acidic.

If you get the soil just right or if you are lucky enough to have acidic soil to begin with, your gardenias should thrive for many years with little care. Keep your garden hose easily accessible and hidden on a garden hose reel for easy watering. Enjoy the beautiful blooms and incredible fragrance of your gardenias for many months out of the year.