What Type of Gardenia Grows Best in Florida?

Cultivars

• Among the more than 200 species growing in USDA zones 7 to 11, gardenia jasminoides -- also called augusta -- and gardenia thunbergia contain suitable cultivars for Florida’s zones 8 to 10. Gardenia augusta varieties such as “Aimee Yashioka” (Gardenia augusta “Aimee Yashioka”) and "Glazerii" (Gardenia jasminoides “Glazerii”) are propagated from cuttings or grafting of other plants. Gardenia thunbergia (Gardenia thunbergia) plants are grown from their own rootstock, seeds or cuttings. Thunbergia, mostly known as “White Gardenia,” cannot tolerate temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flowers

• If you want constant flowering in your garden or landscape, note that gardenia plants bloom at different times of the season, depending on variety. In USDA zones 8 to 11 for example, “Miami Supreme” (Gardenia augusta “Miami Supreme”) gardenia shrubs with medium to deep green foliage, produce large white flowers in early spring. “Mystery” (Gardenia jasminoides “Mystery”) flowers in late spring to early summer -- they are often used for corsages. Fragrant “Veitchii” (Gardenia jasminoides “Veitchii”) shrubs have small, yellow-centered white flowers that bloom from spring to fall. “Kleim’s Hardy” (Gardenia jasminoides "Kleim’s Hardy"), for USDA zones 7 to 11, can tolerate occasional temperatures at 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Shrubs reach 3 feet tall and produce single white flowers in the summer.

Height

• For screens and hedges, you can choose various gardenia cultivars that reach from 2 to about 15 feet. “Prostrata" (Gardenia jasminoides “Prostrata”), also called “Dwarf Gardenia,” grows 2 to 3 feet high and 4 to 6 feet wide in USDA zones 8 to 10. Because of its trailing habit, dwarf gardenia is often planted as ground cover in Florida landscapes. Medium-sized cultivars ranging from 4 to 8 feet high include “August Beauty” (Gardenia jasminoides “August Beauty”), for zones 8 to 11. Among its thick, green foliage, the plant generates large, white double-bloomed flowers. Higher-growing gardenia varieties for Florida’s Mediterranean climate include “Coral Gables” (Gardenia jasminoides “Coral Gables”), which could reach up to 15 feet high in USDA zones 8 to 10. The shrub features dark green leaves and white flowers that appear throughout the summer.

Environment

• Evergreen gardenia shrubs, suitable for hedges, borders, screens and ground covers, prefer full sun or partial shade and well-drained, organic soil with pH of 5.0 to 6.5. You can plant gardenia bushes directly into the ground or place them in containers. Do not plant shrubs along coastal areas because they are not tolerant to salt. Severe frosts or consistent temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit can damage or kill the plants.

Water

• Florida usually gets a lot of rainfall but because the Sunshine State also has its share of dry spells, gardenias require consistent monitoring. Plants need about an inch of water per week -- more often in hot weather. Dry flowerbeds lead to shrinking and cracking roots while overly wet soil may block oxygen intake. Regular watering keeps buds from dropping prematurely. Placing a 2- or 3-inch layer of mulch in the flower bed plant helps the plant retain moisture.