How to Plant a Gardenia Tree

Gardenias produce fragrant blossoms in the summer.

Gardenia trees (Gardenia angusta) offer waxy, dark-green leaves and creamy-white flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance. This small tree can reach up to 15 feet high and blooms from March to June. Gardenia trees grow in U.S, Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Plant in either the fall or the spring using container trees from a local nursery. Once planted, gardenias need more care than other trees but reward gardeners with their flowers.

Things You'll Need

• pH test kit Sulfur (optional) Lime (optional) Pine mulch

Instructions

1. Select a site that offers the gardenia partial sun and well-draining soil. These plants need some sun for best growth but fare poorly in full sun.

2. Test the soil pH in your yard using a home test kit. Gardenias prefer an acidic growing environment with a soil pH of 5 to 6.5.

3. Amend your soil's pH if necessary, adding sulfur to lower the pH level or lime to raise the level.

4. Dig a hole twice the size of your gardenia's root ball. Remove rocks, roots, sticks and debris that can interfere with the plant's roots.

5. Take your gardenia out of its plastic container. Massage the root ball between your hands to break it apart then unwind tangled roots before planting. Trees planted with tangled roots can choke.

6. Place the gardenia in the prepared hole so its trunk is straight and it rests at the same depth in the soil as it did in the container. Holding the tree trunk straight, fill the hole with soil to plant your gardenia.

7. Water the newly planted gardenia until the soil becomes saturated and sinks around the base of the gardenia.

8. Mulch the base of the gardenia with 3 to 4 inches of pine mulch or another organic material.

Tips & Warnings

• Gardeners can also plant gardenia in containers.

References

• University of Florida: Growing Gardenias in Florida
• Clemson University: Gardenia
• Floridata: Gardenia

Resources

• The Garden Helper: Acid Soil