Gardenia jasminoides Fortuniana (Cape Jasmine)

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Fortuniana’ (Cape Jasmine) is a large evergreen shrub with thick, lustrous, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and deliciously fragrant, pure white, double flowers resembling camellia flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm). Blooming from mid-spring through mid-summer, it’s the most free-blooming cultivar.

Gardenia jasminoides 'Fortuniana' (Cape Jasmine) is a large evergreen shrub with thick, lustrous, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and deliciously fragrant, pure white, double flowers resembling camellia flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm). Blooming from mid-spring through mid-summer, it's the most free-blooming cultivar. This handsome rounded shrub makes a stunning addition to the landscape and splendid corsages!

  • This evergreen shrub has a bushy habit and grows up to 6-8 ft. tall and wide (180-240 cm)
  • A full sun to light shade lover, this Gardenia is best grown in consistently moist, acidic, organically rich, well-drained soils. Although it prefers full sun, some shade is appreciated during the warmer months of the year or its leaves may scorch and its buds may fall off if they get too much sunlight. In hot climates, Gardenias grow best with morning sun and afternoon shade. In cooler areas, they can tolerate full sun, especially if their roots are covered with organic mulch.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant and useful as hedges or in containers. Great cut flowers.
  • May be affected by powdery mildew, leaf spots, dieback, anthracnose, sooty mold, whiteflies, mealybugs, scales, aphids and spider mites.
  • Cut off the faded Gardenia flowers, just below the leaf node, to encourage continuous blooming.
  • Prune/shape your Gardenia plant when it is dormant, to promote branching and compact growth
  • Propagate by seed, greenwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to southern China and Japan

Requirements

Hardiness 8
– 11

Heat Zones 7
– 12

Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Gardenia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 6'
– 8'
(180cm
– 240cm)
Spread 6'
– 8'
(180cm
– 240cm)
Spacing 96″ (240cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers