Gardenias are a popular, fragrant flower producing bush that can be finicky in their care and maintenance. Nonetheless, many home gardeners are willing to put the effort into helping them grow well, if only to be rewarded with a lovely waft of fragrance as they walk by and admire them.

A common sight in the Southeast and other warmer parts of the United States such as the Pacific Coast, Gardenias can be trickier in climates that are too cold for this bush to thrive. For that reason, many people in cooler climates treat them as a houseplant, and allow them to overwinter in their homes or in a warm greenhouse throughout the Fall and Winter months, bringing them outside again when it’s warmed up and temperatures are regularly above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gardenias boast large, fragrant flowers that are white or cream in color, and if given the proper care this plant can live for quite a long time. After blooming and when flowers begin to drop off, they remain evergreen. They enjoy acidic soil that is rich and heavy in organic nutrients, drains well, and if grown outside, they prefer to not be in direct sunlight, and they do well in shady or dappled light areas of your lawn.

If they are being grown as a houseplant indoors, they prefer brighter light and higher humidity levels, which can be achieved by either using a humidifier in the room you have your gardenia in, or by placing rocks on a tray that you are wetting with water regularly and setting the potted plant on top of it.

They require a consistently moist soil, so watering them regularly is your best bet to keeping them healthy. To keep your plant healthy, reduce the watering in the winter so you don’t accidentally encourage new growth and confuse your plant. Try to avoid watering them from the top, as this can cause “fungal leaf spots” due to water settling on the leaves, which can make your plant sick. Watering any plant directly to the roots is helpful in preventing many common fungal infections and diseases.

Fertilize plants in warmer regions once in March and once in late June, but don’t fertilize throughout the Fall or Winter. If you are keeping your plant inside, more frequent fertilization is necessary, where you will need to do so at least every 3-4 weeks for optimum plant health.

Gardenias are susceptible to a host of insect pests, fungal infections, and inconsistent temperatures and watering issues.

Insects that may frequent this plant are aphids, scale, spider mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies- all of which are preventable and treatable with neem oil, as long as it’s applied every 7-14 days, depending on infestation. Gardenias will likely have recurrent infestations of these insects, so being vigilant in your prevention of pests is key to the success of them.

They are also vulnerable to powdery mildew, leaf spot, dieback, sooty mold, anthracnose, and will need to be treated with fungicides that are used for these infections. Because fungal infections can spread rapidly, there may be times where you have to remove the entire plant or sections of the plant that are affected by these fungal issues in order to rid it of infections. If possible, use the most natural and safe route that you reasonably can so you don’t harm any beneficial pollinators or other insects vital to the environment.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re considering adding gardenias to your home or garden is that they are mildly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. If consumed, it can cause GI upset, manifesting in the form of vomiting, diarrhea, or hives. If you have pets, you may want to reconsider and try a pet-safe alternative, such as roses, which are equally as beautiful and fragrant as gardenias, minus the potential for toxicity to your pets.

Gardenias are a great plant for intermediate-advanced gardeners who don’t mind a little more maintenance and challenge in a plant, and are willing to put more effort into a plant than the average person. If you’re excited to reap the rewards of wonderfully scented, classic flowers, then gardenias may be the plant for you! They come in several different varieties, so you’re sure to find one you love!

For more information on basic Gardenia care, we recommend you check out “The Spruce” for more information and resources here.

If gardenias seem like too much effort than you feel like putting into a flower but you really want to have them in your home garden, we can help you maintain them! 

We offer perinnial and annual care and installation, pest control, and fertilizing services so you can sit back and relax and watch your gardenias grow! To learn more about the services we offer, we recommend that you check out our “Residential Maintenance Programs” page to learn more!