Gardenia was Billie Holiday's signature flower. It is grown for its fragrance and beauty.
The gardenia is a small shrub densely covered with shiny, green, lance-shaped leaves. It is grown specifically for its highly perfumed white flowers, which often fade to cream. They are generally double or semi-double.
Buy this plant in bloom or bud and maintain it as a temporary plant. Even then, it will drop its flowers if conditions are not to its liking. Constantly cool temperatures of about 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius) are necessary for new buds to form.
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Gardenia Quick Facts
Scientific Name:Gardenia jasminoides
Common Name: Gardenia
Light Requirement for Gardenia: Bright Light
Water Requirementfor Gardenia: Drench, Let Dry
Humidityfor Gardenia: High
Temperaturefor Gardenia: Cool
Fertilizerfor Gardenia: High Nitrogen
Potting Mixfor Gardenia: All-Purpose
Propagation of Gardenia: Stem Cuttings
Decorative Usefor Gardenia: Floor, Table
Care Ratingfor Gardenia: Temporary, Demanding
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Want to learn about house plants by type? Try these:
- House Plants
- Full Sun House Plants
- Bright Light House Plants
- Filtered Light House Plants
- Light Shade House Plants
- Hanging Basket House Plants
- Floor Plant House Plants
- Table Plant House Plants
- Terrarium Plant House Plants
- Very Easy House Plants
- Easy House Plants
- Demanding House Plants
- Temporary House Plants
- Flowering House Plants
- Climbing or Trailing House Plants
- House Plants with Colorful Foliage
- Fragrant House Plants
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Larry Hodgson is a full time garden writer out of Quebec City in the heart of French Canada where he grows well over 3,000 species and varieties. His book credits include Making the Most of Shade, The Garden Lovers Guide to Canada, Perennials for Every Purpose, Annuals for Every Purpose, Houseplants for Dummies, and Ortho's Complete Guide to Houseplants, as well as other titles in English and French. He's the winner of the Perennial Plant Association's 2006 Garden Media Award.
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