gardenia are shrubby , flowering industrial plant that — like bedstraw — belong to to the Rubiaceae or Madder family . In warmer mood , homeowners unremarkably use them in the landscape , while in inhuman climate , gardeniasare popular for use as houseplants . Regardless of where you produce them , gardenias add embellishment and elegance to your space , which is due primarily to the expectant , fragrant flowers they create . However , these plant can also contribute semblance to indoor and out-of-door environments with their foliage and fruit .
Flower Colors
Of the 200 - plus species of gardenias , the legal age bloom with bloom 2 to 5 inches wide-cut that are a wraith of white-hot or pallid yellow . Examples of white gardenias include the ' Coral Gables ' subspecies , or cultivar , which produces unmarried - bloom white flowers ; the ' Aimee Yoshioka ' cultivar , which bring on double - flower white flowers ; and the ' Mystery ' cultivar , which produces two-fold - flower , pure white flower . Double flower have redundant rows of petal that give them a replete , more layered appearance .
Ivory - color gardenias admit the ' White Gem , ' which bears individual , star - shape bone flowers that have a medium bouquet ; ' Kleim ’s Hardy , ' which bears undivided , star topology - mold ivory - bloodless flowers that are highly fragrant ; and the ' Chuck Hayes , ' which have semi - double ivory - lily-white bloom .
Gardenia cultivars also can produce flowers that are bloodless - yellow , like the ' Golden Magic ; ' creamy white , like the ' First Love ; ' velvety white , like the ' August Beauty ' and white with yellow centre , like the ' Veitchii ' .
Leaf Colors
Gardenia leaves are thick , ellipse - shaped and develop in an paired blueprint . This mean each leaf come out directly opposite another on a branch . The colors of gardenia leaves cast from glossy medium green to glossy dark green . However , if temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit , gardenia leaves can become dull or lusterless and their green color can fade to yellow or greenish - yellow-bellied . Each gardenia leaf typically is between 3 and 5 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches wide .
Fruit Color
In increase to bearing colorful parting and flowers , gardenias bear colorful , heavy , oval - shaped fruits . Each fruit typically is between 1/2 and 1 1/2 inch long and has an orange outer shell or space capsule . This fruit space capsule check gardenia seeds .
Tips
keep the colors of gardenias brilliant — regardless of whether these colors are from flower , foliage or fruit — ask providing gardenia with idealistic growing conditions . For good resolution , plant life gardenias in moist , fertile soil that is well - drained and deep in organic subject . you may increase the constitutional contents of your dirt using several different cloth , include peat moss , compost or barque mulch . In terminus of soil chemistry , gardenias favour acid soil that has a pH range between 5.0 and 5.5 . utilize sulfur - based plant food to soil can help oneself increase soil acidity .
