Kowhai
September 11, 2017
Lirope muscari
February 23, 2020

Gardenia

Not only do Gardenias have highly perfumed and beautiful waxy white flowers, they are also a very useful size & shaped shrub to use in a landscaped garden.

There are many varieties and sizes – all with glossy green leaves and a natural rounded shape. Did you know they are in the same family as coffee?

My favourite performer is Gardenia veitchii which grows to approximately 800mm tall & wide.

In the right spot, Gardenias are very low maintenance only requiring an occasional light trim to keep them shaped & bushy.

They can get yellow leaves which is a sign of magnesium deficiency, so people add Epsom salts (magnesium) which is a short-term solution. They like a low pH, so I find adding compost & manure type fertilsers, and an occasional water in summer to help the uptake of nutrients keeps them green.

They originate from tropical countries including our neighbouring Pacific Islands and do well in Auckland in light shade to full sun, flowering from November through to January.

If you want a sense of the tropics over Xmas, float flowers in a bowl inside. The smell is divine.