Gardenia jasminoides Sweet Star

Gardenia jasminoides Sweet Star is an excellent American variety with large single flowers, as fragrant as the species, but hardier. This shrub, with a dense and rounded habit, blooms abundantly from May. It also produces flowers sporadically during the summer and re-blooms at the end of the season. Its evergreen, dark green foliage stands out even in winter. Like other gardenias, it likes filtered sunlight, lime-free, rich and slightly moist soils, and dislikes drafts. It will thrive best in gardens along the Atlantic coast that can provide both humidity and warmth. It can also bring interest to a terrace or a large balcony.

Gardenia jasminoides Sweet Star was selected in 2009 in the USA by Michael Dirr. This plant comes from a seed collected in the Beijing Botanical Garden. It is known to reliably withstand cold up to zone 7, according to some sources. The species itself, sometimes called Cape Jasmine, is a shrub of the Rubiaceae family native to Asia. It is frequently 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 it has given rise to numerous American cultivars, more or less hardy.

Gardenia 'Sweet Star' 'Piiga III' slowly forms a bushy shrub, heavily branched, slightly spreading, reaching a height of 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) and a spread of 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) under good conditions. When grown in a pot, it will remain smaller. Its large white flowers, with a waxy texture, are single and have 6, white to pale yellow petals. Their fragrance is powerful, delightfully intoxicating, addictive. They are particularly abundant in spring. These flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves, at the top of the branches, and are followed by beautiful orange fruits. The flowers stand out well against the dark glossy leaves, which are slightly smaller than those of usual varieties. They are entire, thick, leathery, with very prominent veins. Its bark is greyish. The Gardenia has a very long lifespan and is more floriferous when young.

Despite their somewhat demanding nature, Gardenias are among the most coveted shrubs by plant enthusiasts. It is undeniable that when the right conditions are met, this shrub proves to be one of the most beautiful in the plant world. The hardiness of certain varieties such as Sweet Star allows for the hope of growing it in slightly harsher climates. Hardiness level can vary with the duration of the frosts, the exposure to dry and cold winds, and the soil moisture content. The Gardenia Sweet Star can be grown in the ground or in a large pot, where it will survive mild winters without damage.  However, outside of privileged regions, it is advisable to move it to a cold greenhouse during winter as a precaution. In the garden, camellias, rhododendrons, pieris and Kalmias will make excellent companions for this wonderful shrub.

Plant it in a partially shaded bed, or in a pot in a cool, humus-rich, and light soil. Exposure is important, as Gardenias like warmth (but not drought) and the harsh rays of the sun can scorch their foliage. Place it in partial shade, in a bright spot, well protected from cold and dry winds. Gardenias have roughly the same requirements as camellias.