Gardenia jasminoides Perfumed Petticoats

Gardenia Perfumed Petticoats is a recent and astonishing variety. While this hybrid gardenia is not the hardiest variety, it proves to be easier to grow, particularly robust and reliable, in non-limestone soil. This evergreen shrub has a compact habit and slender foliage that is both elegant and abundant. It boasts wonderful, double white flowers, with a powerful and delightfully intoxicating floral scent. Hardy to -8/-10 °C (17.6/14 °F) in well-drained soil, it thrives in the open ground away from scorching sun or in partial shade, in fertile soil that remains moist in summer. While it prefers mild and humid oceanic climates, it performs very well even in more continental areas. This absolutely delightful small shrubs deserves a prominent place on the terrace or close to the house.

Gardenia jasminoides is a shrub from the Rubiaceae family, originating from Asia. It is commonly found in the wild in Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, and India, in mild and humid, subtropical to tropical climates. Its cultivation in China dates back at least a thousand years, and in recent years numerous American cultivars have been produced, some hardier than others. 'Perfumed Petticoats', from which it originates, slowly forms a small, bushy and graceful shrub, reaching 60 cm (23.6 in) in all directions in pots and 90 cm (35.4 in) in the open ground, under suitable conditions. Its white flowers, with a waxy texture, are fully double and have a powerful scent. They bloom abundantly in spring and summer, appearing solitary at the axil of the leaves, at the top of the branches. They measure 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.4 in) in diameter and consist of numerous cream-white petals that fade to pale yellow. The flowers stand out well against its elegant leaves, thinner than in typical varieties. The leaves are entire, shiny and dark green, with very prominent veins. Its bark is greyish. Gardenias have a very long lifespan and are more floriferous in their young age.

Despite their somewhat demanding nature, Gardenias are among the most coveted shrubs by plant enthusiasts. It is undeniable that when the conditions are met, in a humid and mild climate with fertile, lime-poor soil, sheltered from scorching sun and frost, the gardenia proves to be one of the most beautiful plant species. The hardiness of certain varieties such as Perfumed Petticoats, often questioned, should be moderated based on the duration of frost and the water content of the soil. In mild and humid climates, and even in more continental areas, in well-sheltered locations, it is perfectly possible to successfully grow gardenias in the open ground, protected from draughts which they dislike. Elsewhere, it is preferable to cultivate them in pots that can be taken indoors, in a cold greenhouse during winter. In the garden, camellias, rhododendrons, pieris, and kalmias will make excellent companions for this charming shrub.