PlantsbyMail is your one-stop shop to buy gardenia shrubs online. We offer the hottest new selections on the market today as well as numerous classic varieties that gardeners know and love!
Gardenias are originally from the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Believe it or not, they’re in the same family as Coffee bean plants.
Their name comes from Dr. Alexander Garden, an 18th-century Scottish-American botanist from Charleston, South Carolina. His close friend John Ellis first cataloged the plant and named it after him. Dr. Garden later planted the first Gardenia in the United States in 1762.
These beauties embody purity and sweetness. They’re said to create joy, and it’s hard to disagree when that familiar scent hits you.
Along with Camellias and Azaleas, they’re a classically Southern plant. Southerners have strategically mixed Camellias, Azaleas, and Gardenias in their landscapes for generations to provide blooms in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!
This may be self-explanatory for those that are already in the know on these beauties, but if you’re on the fence, here are a few reasons.
Gardenias bloom in late spring or early summer with a huge bounty of flowers. However, after the first display, most varieties will continue to rebloom periodically with less plentiful yields of fragrant blossoms.
These guys come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. There are low-growing varieties, large screening selections, and almost everywhere in between. Chances are you’ll find one that fits your garden perfectly.
Almost everyone knows the scent of a Gardenia. And if you think you don’t know it, just give one a sniff and you’ll probably remember that you do actually know it. The fragrance is rich and balmy, comforting and sweet. It might just take you back to warm summer nights chasing fireflies and sitting on porch swings.
All types tend to have the same growing requirements, so the main question you’ll need to ask yourself is “What do I want my Gardenia to do?”
Here’s a little supplementary reading about Gardenia varieties.
The planting requirements are pretty consistent for all varieties in this group. They need at least 4 hours of direct sun exposure to grow and flower properly. All-day direct sun works well in cooler zones. In USDA Zones 9 & 10, 4-6 hours of direct sun is ideal. All-day sun is doable in these warmer zones, however, they will need extra attention to ensure that they aren’t drying out rapidly during the summer.
Acidic soil with good drainage is ideal, but a neutral pH works as well. Alkaline soil often leads to a mineral deficiency that results in leaves yellowing and dropping (some light yellowing and leaf drop is not unusual in fall and early winter).
Fall and Spring are generally the best times to plant. Both times have their advantages, but gardeners can plant during either season.
Fall is preferable in these areas because winters are usually milder and it gives the plant more time to establish itself before summer.
Spring is a slightly more strategic time to plant. It allows your plant to situate itself before winter. We do recommend providing coverage for your plant during its first winter in your landscape though. This primarily entails covering your plant with a freeze-cloth, tarp, or blanket overnight during hard freezes. It will be less vulnerable to freezes in its second winter.
You’re trusting us to pick and ship healthy plants directly to your door and we take this responsibility very seriously. We carefully pick quality plants that we wouldn’t hesitate to plant in our own gardens. Then, we water them, securely package them for shipment in custom boxes, and send them on their way. If you’re not happy with your order on arrival, contact us and let us know. We’ll be sure to do whatever we can to make it right.
