I have 2 of these that were layered from a plant at our old house, cultivar unknown. They have been here since 2008. They are located on the west side of my garden shed. They receive about 1 hour of direct summer sun, but mostly shaded by numerous loblolly pines for the majority of the afternoon and evening sun.
This was the first year I really paid attention to them. They bloomed profusely from June 1st until July 7th. Some of the blooms were 6in. in diameter with full double blooms. The shrubs were about 6ft. tall and quite leggy until I trimmed them on July 7th to about 4 ft.
I propagated 75 tip cuttings from the trimmings. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to try rooting the thicker branches removed as hardwood cuttings directly into my "Gardenia" patch using 8 year old rooting hormone I found in the shed. Of the 27 I stuck directly into soil, last count was 19. Way I see it, that's 19 more gardenias I didn't have before trying this...
Both beautiful and intoxicating, the Gardenia is definitely my favorite flower, taking the lead away from southern magnolias.

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Gardenia jasminoides is a common and popular shrub here in the south, and the fragrant blooms are a favorite of many. I have two Gardenia shrubs in my yard that I planted 30+ years ago. They've been pretty much neglected when it comes to fertilization and pruning as I rarely do either and they are both about 6 feet high and wide. I've read that Gardenia requires a location of mostly shade with dappled sunlight, yet one of mine grows in full sun, the other in full shade, and they both thrive, blooming during May and June each year.

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