My father is trying to plant a gardenia reminiscent of one his mother had. He calls it a Cape Jasmine and says it was a large shrub, perhaps 6' but there are many types that fall under that heading. Can anyone tell me of one that grows well in central Texas, given the correct soil amendments? Thank you,
Annie
Cape Jasmine Gardenia for my father
I have that shrub...it's a Gardenia jasminoides and the cultivar I have is called, 'Mystery'. The flowers are very fragrant. I think it's tender so I have it on the west side, close to the house, and it never loses its leaves all winter. It gets full sun, regular watering and it's planted in loose well drained soil. I bet it would grow in your area, has he already bought it?
I've only run into one person that has ever planted that shrub and she lives in Florida.
He isn't going to buy it. I am looking for a good choice for him and will get it for him. I saw the "Mystery" online, it is beautiful. Some of the gardenias are called Hardy (blooms didn't look as spectacular as others) and I was considering them or the August Beauty. I would like to hear from more Texas gardeners on which ones are performing best for them.
Annie
I have August Beautys. They don't bloom all summer for me, like the claims, or even bloom in August. But their flowers are just beautiful, and the fragrance is my very favorite of all flowers. We wait all year for them to bloom. I too have that memory from when I was a child, and I just can't get enough of them.
Gardenias in general, except for the dwarves, are hardy down to about 20 degrees once they're established. The first year I had them, we had one of two very hard winters where it got down below 10 for an extended period. I covered mine with burlap. They suffered some damage, but then so did everything else. They recovered and bloomed the next spring. Since they are so old and established now, I don't have to cover them. But I might if we have another winter like that.
They get big. My two are about 8x8 feet. They are acid-lovers and can't get enough iron in our alkaline soil, so I give them Texas greensand. They suffer from whitefly and sometimes aphids, so I spray them once or twice a season with neem oil. I don't do anything else special for them. They just come back and bloom every year, and we get to enjoy. :) Wish I had more.
Oh, I should also have mentioned. Some people try the dwarves, which don't take up so much space. Their flowers are just as pretty and they smell just as good, but they are only hardy down to 28 degrees.
The same year I planted my big ones, I put a couple of dwarves around a patio that is surrounded on three sides by walls. I thought they'd be protected enough there. Then we had that extreme (for Texas) winter, and I covered them with burlap too. They survived for awhile, but were never very healthy and eventually gave up the ghost.
Some people have tried growing the dwarves in the house. I would love to do that, but I've never heard from anyone who's been very satisfied with the results. I think they do better in hothouses.
Sorry I can't offer much advice to the OP, except for trying potting a Cape Jasmine for your dad if your local soil conditions are not right. I'll be glad to send you a cutting, once they root, just send me a dmail.
Last spring, my Mom wanted me to plant one for sentimental reasons, as my grandmom grew one. She even called her (former) gardening brother, now in a nursing home, for the name of the plant. I found one in a good nursery in Nacogdoches and just two weeks ago took several cuttings from an old cemetery and the they are doing exceptionally well.
Isn't heirloom gardening exciting!
Annie, I made a mistake, the plant I was thinking of is a Crape Jasmine, Tabernaemontana divaricata, it's different than the one you were talking about. It's flowers are like a Gardenia. Sorry.