PlantHaven
Family
Rubiaceae
Botanical Name
Gardenia jasminoides 'Crown Jewel'
Plant Common Name
Cape-jessamine, Gardenia
General Description
Best known for its lush foliage, rounded habit and wonderfully fragrant flowers, common gardenia is a superb, cold-tender evergreen shrub native to East Asia. The cultivar 'Crown Jewel' combines the compact habit and double flowers of 'Chuck Hayes' with the cold-hardiness and prolific bloom of 'Kleim's Hardy.' The waxy, double, ivory-white flowers appear in abundance from late spring to early summer and repeat in lesser numbers into fall. Smaller than those of most gardenias, the glossy, dark-green, evergreen leaves are borne on dense spreading branches. The colorful red and yellow bases (calyces) of the flowers often remain long after the petals have dropped, providing fall and winter interest.
Acidic, evenly moist soils with good drainage are crucial for plant health and successful blooming. Plants also like humidity. Common gardenia grows best in full to partial sun and needs good air circulation to discourage foliar diseases. Whether used as a specimen or in a mixed shrub border, this is a beautiful and rewarding landscape ornamental. Where not cold hardy it may be container grown and overwintered in sunny indoor locations.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 10
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Plant Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
-
Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
-
Width
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
-
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
-
Native To
Eastern Asia
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
White, Ivory
-
Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
-
Bark Color
Chocolate, Gray
-
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Double
-
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
-
Showy Fruit
No
-
Edible Fruit
No
-
Showy Foliage
Yes
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
-
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
Yes
-
Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
-
Bark Texture
Smooth
-
Usage
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
-
Sharp or Has Thorns
No
-
Invasive
No
-
Self-Sowing
No