Culture
Best grown in a well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil. Fall or spring is the best time for planting in warmer climates. Place in light to moderate shade, preferably with minimum competition from tree roots. Gardenias resent root disturbance. Use fertilizer for acid loving plants, and use iron compounds. Add plenty of organic matter, such as compost or ground bark to as large an area as possible. Mulch plants instead of cultivating. A good time to feed gardenias in these warm areas is mid-March, using an acid plant food, fish emulsion or blood meal. Fertilize the shrubs again in late June to encourage extra flowers on everbloomers or faster growth of young shrubs. Do not fertilize gardenias in the fall. Doing so will stimulate tender growth. Prune shrubs after they have finished flowering to remove straggly branches and faded flowers. Water gardenias regularly. Drip irrigating the shrubs will keep water off the foliage and blossoms and prevents leaf spots.
Cape jasmine can also be grown in colder climates as container plants in conservatories or greenhouses. If kept as a houseplant, they can be moved outdoors for the warm months, and brought back indoors before the first frost. Grown indoors, these plants need bright light and moderate temperatures (cooler during dormancy), average to high humidity and well-drained, acidic soil. Water moderately, using room temperature water, when possible. Do not allow soil to dry out or stay too wet. Prune after flowering to maintain the plant’s shape and remove faded or brown flowers as they appear. Fertilize from March to August with a mild acid liquid fertilizer.
‘Shooting Star’ by reputation has the best winter hardiness of the common gardenias, it still is not reliably winter hardy throughout the St. Louis area. Some nurseries suggest that ‘Shooting Star’ is winter hardy to Zone 6, but such a rating may be a bit optimistic. Other common gardenias exhibiting excellent winter hardiness are usually at best winter hardy to Zone 7. If planted outdoors in the St. Louis area, ‘Shooting Star’ should be sited in a sheltered location protected from winter winds and given an organic root mulch.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Gardenia jasminoides, commonly called common gardenia or cape jasmine, is native to southern China and Japan and is an evergreen shrub with thick, glossy, dark green leaves (to 4” long). It typically grows to 3-6’ tall. It is particularly noted for its extremely fragrant white flowers (to 3” diameter) and is often grown in double-flowered forms. Flowers bloom throughout the year in warm climates where temperatures do not dip below 60°F., but more typically bloom in late spring to early summer in cooler climates in the northern part of its growing range.
Gardenia jasminoides is synonymous with G. augusta and G. grandiflora.
Genus name honors Alexander Garden (1730-1791), Scottish physician, botanist and zoologist who settled in Charleston, South Carolina in 1752.
Specific epithet means like jasmine.
‘Shooting Star’ is a compact cultivar that typically grows 3-4’ tall and is noted for its winter hardiness and large, fragrant, single white flowers (to 3” diameter). Flowers appear May to June. Glossy, evergreen, ovate to lance-shaped dark green leaves (to 4” long) appear opposite or in whorls. Seeds of this cultivar were reportedly collected at the Beijing Botanical Garden in China.
Problems
Problems include powdery mildew, leaf spots, dieback, anthracnose, sooty mold, whiteflies, mealybugs, scales, aphids and spider mites. These insects are often serious pests. Hard water, lack of iron or too alkaline soil will produce yellow leaves (chlorosis). The loss of buds or black leaf tips are usually due to changes in temperature or amounts of water. Temperatures below 60°F can produce malformed buds.
Uses
Shrub border, foundation planting, formal or informal hedge. Site plants near entry ways or paths so that the fragrance can more easily be enjoyed. Large container plant for greenhouses or conservatories. Houseplant.
Accent plant for sheltered area around homes in areas where it is winter hardy.