Gardenias are a genus of over 200 species that are evergreen flowering shrubs in the coffee family. They are native to Africa, Asia, Australia and some Pacific Islands. They can be shrubs or small trees and grow from 3 to 49 feet tall. The leaves are usually shiny and leathery and occur in whorls or opposite on the stem. The showy fragrant flowers can occur singly or in clusters and are usually white or yellow. The plants generally prefer fertile, moist, acidic soil, bright indirect light and humid conditions. They can be challenging to grow outside of their native conditions. There are many types and cultivars available with various sizes and colors of flowers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect problems can be white flies, aphids, scales, thrips, mealy bugs, spider mites, and caterpillars. Disease issues include root-knot nematode, powdery mildew, root rots, sooty mold. Chlorosis can occur in alkaline soils. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common gardenia diseases and other problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Pests of Gardenia; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Citrus Whitefly; Whiteflies Found on Flowers and Foliage; Thrips Found on Flowers and Foliage; Barnacle Scale; Banded Greenhouse Thrips