Gardenias

Imagine yourself on a Hawaiian beach on a sultry evening, your eyes closed, the air redolent of the heady perfume of gardenia, tuberose, white ginger, frangipani, lemon and orange blossoms, and jasmine. The ocean surf rolls in waves in the background, and when your eyelids open ever so slightly, the white shaft of the moon bounces off of the whitecaps of the water, shattering into crystals far more rich than any grouping of singular color you can conceptualize.

Now picture yourself under a full moon, sitting on your own deck or patio, your day’s work over, and this time owed to no one save yourself. If you’ve thought ahead, you will still be able to enjoy the sensual delights of the expensive Hawaiian vacation by having planted the fragrant white gardenia, and placing a small fountain in the corner. Voilà! Scent, sound, and sight, all satisfied and for a fraction of the price.

Widely used in perfumery, the gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) is a native of the tropics and subtropics of the Old World. In 1754, Captain Hutcheson, skipper of the English ship Godolphin, was bound for home from India when he decided to make a short visit to South Africa. As he was walking along the shoreline, the sweet heavy fragrance of a plant covered with double white, waxy blossoms drew his attention. After it was dug up and taken on board, this amazingly resilient plant survived the harsh trip to England.

Merchant and botanist John Ellis named it gardenia, after Dr. Alexander Garden, a physician and botanist from Charleston, South Carolina. Apparently this was a common way for practitioners of this relatively nascent science (modern botany was begun in the late 15th to early 16th centuries) to honor each other, thus making way for a communal worldwide informational database.

Southern gardeners have for generations employed these versatile plants. With a large show of blooms in early spring, they continue to produce flowers throughout the summer and even into fall; the blossoms open white and gradually fade to gold. Used as specimen shrubs, planted en masse as hedges, used for screening, in borders, as ground covers, or grown in containers, gardenias’ beauty is matched by their extraordinary perfume.

By planting them in pots, you can move them so that their fragrance is always available to you. One caveat: gardenias prefer warm, frost-free locations that are protected from the hot afternoon sun; the ideal site is one that offers morning sun and dappled shade in the afternoon. So when moving your containerized gardenia, keep its light preferences in mind. And remember to use a high-quality potting mix that contains water crystals and a slow-release fertilizer.

To repay these marvelous plants for the beauty and scent they give in return, plant them in soil with excellent drainage and a pH of around 6.0. Set the root-ball about 1 inch higher than the surrounding soil (this will help in ensuring adequate drainage) and then gently taper the soil up to the top of the exposed root-ball. Mulch to retain moisture, and treat them to monthly feedings of a fertilizer blended for acid-loving plants such as azaleas and camellias.

If the idea of an evening party with a tropical theme appeals to you, surround your gardenias with variegated hostas and fern fronds. Light from below, turn on the fountain, and pluck one perfect gardenia bloom to wear in your hair. It will be a party to be remembered for years to come.