GARDENING: Gardenia/Rosal (Gardenia jasminoides)

Gardenia/Rosal (Gardenia jasminoides)

Gardenia/Rosal

Scientific Name

Gardenia jasminoides
Gardenia augusta
Gardenia grandiflora

Hardiness Zone (Philippines is Zone 11)

Zone 8 to 11

Light
Partial sun/shade to full sun
(depending on heat)

Bloom Period
Summer
(June to August, US)
(March to June, PH)
Prune within two weeks after flowers fade to encourage new growth.
Fertilize during bloom period.

Watering
It likes good drainage and moist/humid environment.
Do not water the leaves as it causes rot.
Do not overwater the roots.
It prefers acidic soil (pH 5.0-6.0)

Links
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Rosal.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardenia_jasminoides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardenia

Impressions

Gardenia/Rosal are tropical flowering plants that belong to the same family as coffee with origins in Asia. They produce big fragrant flowers that have a buttery jasmine scent, smells more like mushrooms and rotting carcasss toward the end of the flower's life. The fleshy and slightly crunchy petals are safe and edible straight from picking but don't have any taste.

I find gardenia to be more challenging than any other. For example, it benefits from frequent moving around depending on heat and sun (cooler days it gets open air sun bathing, hotter days it stays beside taller plants). The plant always needs to have ample air circulation and never water or mist the leaves for fear of rotting or fungus. The soil gets light watering daily. Sometimes I don't know if the soil is not acidic enough because leaves start dropping despite the right amount of sun, water and air. Or sometimes it looks fine but decides it doesn't want to flower. It's such a diva!

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