I just saw this gardenia in the 'Logee's' catalog. Has anyone here tried it yet? The thing that caught my eye was that it claims to bloom from spring to fall. My gardenias only bloom in the spring. So this sounds really great! It also claims it is a prolific bloomer of fragrant 2-3" flowers. What do you guys think about this?
Gardenia jasminoides 'Frostproof'
That cultivar is unique for its improved cold hardiness (hence the name Frostproof). If you look through their plant descriptions they describe some of their other gardenias as blooming for extended periods of time too. If the gardenias you have now aren't blooming as much as you'd hoped I expect it's something about the conditions (summer temperatures, sun/shade, water, fertilizer, soil pH, etc) that isn't quite keeping them happy. I've grown a few different kinds and they never bloom much during the summer so summer heat could be a factor for sure.
Our summers do get incredibly hot, so that makes sense. Thanks for the info. I have Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy'. It puts out a lot of very scented flowers in the late spring, then just a few odd flowers that seem like they were late, then that is it for the blooms. The bush is very healthy looking and continues to put on new growth after the blooms are done. I think it would be nice to have that wonderful gardenia scent for a longer period of time. I may look over some of the others that bloom for longer times.
Pam - it's 'Frostproof's' first year in my yard...ordered it early last summer, I believe, and it's doing well so far. I didn't get blooms on it but that might have been my own fault as I had to relocate it after being told it didn't care for the sun quite as much as some other gardenias. Do you have Shooting Star? That one seemed to produce a few flushes from spring thru fall...God love her - she even had a bud (aborted, of course) at the beginning of Dec.!! I think the Kleims Hardy did as well...not as many blooms but she's a smaller/younger plant.
Here is the gardenia that I have.
This is a close up of the flowers. I think I have accurately named it by comparison as 'Kleim's Hardy'. It has a nice bunch of great smelling gardenias. I just want them to last longer. I don't have 'Shooting Star'. If it produces several flushes, then I will have to look into getting that one.
Here's 'Shooting Star'
Gardenia 'Radicans' - this one refuses to stay alive for me...it is so frustrating
This message was edited Jan 8, 2009 8:50 PM
Now that I think about it - the Kleim's hardy produced more then one flush..maybe just 2 and not nearly the amt of blooms the 2nd time but I remember being pleasantly surprised that it did. Here's my Kleim's
Those are both just gorgeous. I can almost smell them. I just can't get enough of that scent. I would grow every single one of them if I could. I purchased a small varigated one last spring and planted it near my other one. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/83481/ Not too sure about this little guy yet. He doesn't look much better than the picture there. I still have a few of the Tahitian gardenias we planted from seed last year. They're small but still hanging in there. I hope they show some more growth spurts this spring.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/83481/
This message was edited Jan 8, 2009 7:56 PM
I hear ya, Pam...believe me...I wish I could get one like August Beauty....those blooms are huge!! Course if my supposed 'Mystery' gardenia stays alive, I may have those big blooms yet. Sounds like you have a great mix...and so happy your Tahitian babies are still with you!!! I thought I had a pic of my Chuck Hayes...but now that I think about it...I'm not sure that one bloomed yet for me...LOL....
Do you get a funny tick noise when you click on the link above. I tried to add it twice from the Plant Files and both times it just makes a tick noise.
How many gardenia varieties do you have now?
BRB have to run p/u DD from work...I'll check when I get back...do you have a cell phone by your computer or another electronic device?
We have a regular phone and a digital camera, scanner and printer.
Ok...not hearing any odd sounds...LOL
As for current gardenia that are alive and IN the ground:
'Mystery' (mabye)
'Shooting Star'
Chuck Hayes
Kleims Hardy
Frost Proof
Killed:
'Radicans'
Daisy
August Beauty
Unsure - in pot
Tahitian gardenias (was bought the plant - not from the co-op seeds)