The common gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides ) is an evergreen bush cultivated for its showy , fragrant bloodless blossom . These flowering shrubs can have a superlative of up to 8 feet ; however , there are small dwarf cultivar from which to choose .
Gardenia plants are usually cut with the goal of work the plant and removing expend blooms and weak - looking branches .
The common gardenia and its cultivars are hardy in USDA hardiness zone 8 to 10 , though nanus cultivars and container plants tend to be less cold brave by two USDA zone .
Dwarf Gardenia Cultivars
Dwarf gardenias typically have a mature height of under 3 feet . allow ’s take care at some of the dwarf cultivars on the food market .
Radicans
The creeping gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides’Radicans , ' zones 8 to 10 ) is a go around , downcast - growing eccentric of dwarf gardenia that turn well as groundcover because of its short height of under 3 metrical foot .
Radicans Variegata
Radicans Variegata ( Gardenia jasminoides’Radicans Variegata , ' zones 8 to 10 ) has motley foliage and a height between 1 and 2 feet . Like the creeping gardenia , it is often used as groundcover .
White Gem
If you are search for a gardenia to grow in a container , consider the White Gem gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides’White Gem , ' zones 8 to 10 ) , which has a elevation of about 2 feet . The ashen efflorescence of this cultivar are single - flowered and have six petals . A container White Gem gardenia will only be hardy to zone 6 .
Fragrant Pathways
Another gardenia cultivar used as groundcover is Fragrant Pathways ( Gardenia jasminoides’Fragrant Pathways , ' zones 8 to 10 ) , which has duple blooms and narrow leaves .
Tip
crawl gardenia cultivar can be grown in containers or used as groundcover .
Caring for Dwarf Gardenias
When to Prune Dwarf Gardenias
Gardenia bush , including miniature gardenias , should be prune in mid - summertime after the shrub are terminate flowering . It is important not to prune during or after October , however , because by then , new bud have arrange . Therefore , pruning in the fall can slenderize peak the following year .
Avoid pruning gardenia shrubs after October 1 , as doing so can diminish the next year ’s flower .
In the pillow slip of the dwarf Radicans gardenia , snip the plant during the growing season to absent spent flowers can encourage re - blooming .
