Gardenia

I bought a potted one the other day in bud which apears to be 4 cuttings in one pot. Plant label says Gardenia jasminoides but doesn't give the variety. It's a very fragrant double white so possibly 'Viechiana'

My RHS book lists it as frost tender, neutral to acid soil (ericacious compost) and can grow to a large shrub or small tree. Scratching round the web I've seen it as OK down to -7C. Another site suggests it will get leveled by a hard frost but will probably regenerate.

Anyone any experience in growing these outdoors. Plan would be: after flowering pot up as individual plants with possibly one being planted outside in a sheltered spot. Or would it be better in a container and brought inside over winter? Up here -15C is rare but not unknown.

 

my feeling is, bring it in - but I don't have any actual experience of it - just of Scottish winters!!

 

My RHS book says min 15C for Jasminoides.
I did read about a new hardy Gardenia becoming available but I cant think of the name.

 

Found these two which are supposed to be relatively hardy

A double;

Gardenia jasminoides 'Chuck Hayes'

and a single;

Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy'

I'll go with the pot/container route with mine though. Thanks for the advice.

 

Thats very iteresting frogesque, as I say I did read/hear about a hardy gardenia that was becoming available in the UK, but I cant remember the name, when I see it I'm gonna get one for sure.
I think the links that you give maybe slightly missleading as they are in areas of the US of coldish winters but the summers are much longer and hotter than ours, with high humidity.
Still they could be worth a try.

 

Yep, should have clarified that about American sites. Their zones don't really translate very well to our climate but an outdoor Gardenia suited to the UK would be a real winner.

 

I bought a gardenia in France last year, I walked past it and the perfume was so strong I had to have it.

It is currently looking very sorry for itself with brownedges to its leaves, and the flower buds turn yellow and die before opening.

I spray it everyday with room temperature water, and make sure it's soil is moist without being wet, it never sees direct sunlight and lives at a constant 17C throughout winter. In essence, I have done everything I know to help it grow, and failed miserably.

 

but have you got it in ericaceous compost, and feed accordingly?? They do better that way, IMO

 

I've never managed to get one to thrive either rich, you are not alone. :(

 

Ah! Aparently they don't like too high a temperature during winter. 55F (12C) is required to aid strong bud formation.

Looks like this could be a challenge as they are subject to insect attack and sooty mildew as well.

The first flower bud on mine opened today and the perfume is gorgeous so I'm definitely going to do my best to keep it going.

 

Mine tend to get, as you say sooty mould, scale insect, black fly, bud drop, root rot and a few other things I cant remember.
Do you think I might be doing something wrong.
Yes they do smell nice.

 

hello

i have bought a potted gardenia which i have had for 2 years now its twice the size of when i bought it and flowers really well,

this is one of if not the hardest plant i have ever tryed to keep the other 7 i have had all died but this one i keep in the conservatory and it thrives in here cool at night and really warm during the day ( when we get sun that its !).

i have just repotted it and already its roots are hanging out the bottom so looks like it needs doing again but will leave it till its finished flowering but there is hope and it can be done.
my other 7 i kept in the living room and they hated it .
i really would like one that goes outside can you put a normal one out or does it have to be one for outside only as i have never seen one just the indoor ones ?

lisa

 

I don't know of any that are reliably hardy in UK. There are some said to be frost tolerant down to -7C, but even this would involve a lot of fussing in winter.
I think you've done really well to keep yours. Any other plant I would suggest putting outside for summer, but my experience of gardenias is that if you find a place they like, don't move them!
Somebody else may know better.

 

Update:

The four cuttings in the pot all survived being separated out after the first one flowered despite being pot bound and the roots very interwoven.

There's now four for the price of one and the second one is in flower with a third about to break bud. No sign of a bud on No. 4 but it's growing well and looks heathy. They are living inside an unheated porch which has a fairly cool and stable temperature.

So, Just to show off here's a couple of them.





After the winter we've just had I don't think I'll risk planting them outside :D

[ 26. May 2006, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Well worth showing off. Do you like the smell?