Some plants bloom.
Gardenias transform.
There’s just nothing else like them. They’re iconic in the Southern Garden, not just because they look good (they do), but because they feel like summer. That unforgettable fragrance isn’t just sweet—it’s thick with memory. When the air outside gets sticky and dense, gardenias flip the script. Their scent mixes with the humidity in a way that makes you crave the air instead of avoiding it.
It’s almost like the flowers are turning our sweltering atmosphere into something sacred.
Step outside on a summer evening, and the fragrance wraps around you—soft, strong, and soothing. It settles into your lungs in the best way. You can’t help but take a deep breath. And then another. There’s something powerful and almost meditative about that cycle. That scent changes you. It doesn’t just fill your yard; it shifts your state of mind.
That’s why we plant gardenias.
.
Old-Fashioned vs. Re-Blooming: What’s the Difference?
The heirloom types are stunning. They bloom once a year, but oh, do they show off—dense clusters of flowers that cover the shrub in white, and a fragrance that travels across the yard and into your memory. These larger varieties (like ‘August Beauty’) are fantastic as hedges or anchors in the landscape. With their glossy evergreen foliage and 5–6 foot height, they make a strong year-round backdrop.
Then there are the re-bloomers—a newer generation of gardenias that flower not just once, but again and again from spring to frost. Their bloom cycles often start around Mother’s Day and continue through summer and fall. A healthy re-bloomer can give you waves of blooms every 6–8 weeks.
That means more fragrance, more beauty, and more chances to breathe deeply.
These newer varieties aren’t just generous—they’re versatile. Many stay compact enough to edge a walkway, line a patio, or even thrive in containers. Think of these blooms, not as simple flowers, but as garden sprites that bring calm and comfort to your landscape all season long.
Why Choose Re-Blooming Gardenias?
Because one moment of magic just isn’t enough.
If you love the fragrance, the mood, the almost-spiritual calm these plants can offer, you don’t have to limit that joy to a two-week window in May. Re-blooming gardenias give you a way to return to that feeling again and again. Every bloom is another reason to pause, inhale, and let yourself slow down.
Fragrance this powerful shouldn’t be a one-time thing.
Our Favorite Re-Blooming Varieties
Here’s a quick list of re-bloomers we love, each with its own strengths:
- Jubilation – Compact, fragrant, great in mass plantings
- Steady as She Goes – Low, mounding habit and a dense first round of blooms
- Everblooming (Vetchii) – Abundant flowers over a long season, vintage variety
- Diamond Spire – Upright form, great vertical accent, compact enough for pots
- Buttons – Open flowers look like lovely little daisies, compact plants
Pro Tips for Happy Gardenias
Give them room to breathe
Gardenias love airflow. Avoid planting them too tightly against a wall. Keep them open on all sides—ideal for deterring whitefly, a minor pest that’s easily managed but thrives in stagnant air.
Let the sunshine in
Despite their reputation as shade plants, gardenias love the sun. Full sun or 4+ hours of direct light is ideal. Morning sun with afternoon shade is a sweet spot. Avoid deep shade—it makes them leggy and sparse.
Feed the soil, not just the plant.
Use an organic, acid-loving fertilizer like Holly-Tone in spring and again in early summer. Top-dress with compost or cow manure to build healthy soil. Bonus tip: Sprinkling worm castings around your plants in spring may prevent whitefly entirely.
Plant high and mulch well
Never bury the crown (the spot where the roots meet the stem). Keep the top of the root ball 1–2 inches above ground level. Then mulch with pine bark, pine straw, wood chips—whatever natural material you like. Just don’t skip it. Mulch will prevent weeds, maintain soil moisture, and protect the roots.
Ready to bring that unforgettable fragrance home? Stop by and explore our collection of re-blooming gardenias. Whether you’re planting one or planning a hedge, we’ve got the plants and the know-how to help you grow success.