Plant profile - Gardenia
Gardenias are a magical flowering shrub with an exquisite perfume, a stunning addition to your garden.
Their large creamy white flowers are at their best usually from November to May due to the warmer weather. The glossy green leaves make for a very attractive plant. Frost free areas north of Sydney and in Perth where there is a mild humid climate are where this plant is seen to be grown to perfection.
Majority of Gardenias perform their best in well-drained, humus rich acidic soil. Sunny or partly shady position is also preferred. To promote foliage and flowering water and feed well and mulch with a good quality compost.
Gardenias look fabulous as a standalone feature plant in a pot or can be mass planted to provide a fragrant hedge or border.
You may see yellow leaves during spring which can be attributed to magnesium deficiency, this can be easily treated with an application of Epsom salts, all purpose fertiliser and a good watering. Buds may also go brown and fail to open during winter and then drop in spring. This is fairly normal as Gardenias continue to produce flowers buds right through autumn even through their growth slows. Apart from this, the Gardenia is easy to maintain as long as it receives adequate watering during the warmer months.
For any further information on Gardenias or planting contact Eastern Suburbs Horticulture on 0413 328 334
