Gardenia ‘Ocean Pearl’

Gardenia 'Ocean Pearl' (Gardenia augusta 'Ocean Pearl') carries large single white blooms with the heavy sweet perfume the genus is known for, on a rounded shrub of about 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide. The single flower form is broader and flatter than the tight double gardenias, and it opens across a long warm season. Plant one beside a door and the scent does the rest.

Why you'll love it

• Perfume you can smell across the garden. One mature plant scents a courtyard on a still summer evening.
• Large single blooms. Wide and simple rather than tightly doubled, opening pure white and ageing to cream.
• Neat size for a small garden. At 1.2m each way it fits a narrow bed, a courtyard or a pot.
• Glossy evergreen foliage. Out of flower it holds deep green leaves with a real shine.
• Comfortable in humidity and heat. Warm humid summers are where gardenias perform best.

Where it works best

Low hedging and borders. Plant 80cm apart for a fragrant low hedge. The plants close into a continuous line at around 1m to 1.2m over two seasons.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider suits it, and container growing holds it closer to 1m. Put it where you brush past it: beside a front door or along a path to a seating area. Potted gardenias drop buds when they dry out, so be realistic about summer watering.

Growing gardenia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade ideal in hot inland gardens. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones and tolerates light frost only. In cool temperate and frosty districts, grow it in a pot that moves under cover for winter.

Soil. Acidic, rich and free draining. Work compost and composted pine bark through the bed before planting, and use a mix for acid loving plants in containers. Alkaline soil is the biggest cause of the yellow leaves gardenias are famous for.

Water and feed. Keep the soil consistently moist without letting it sit wet: deep water two or three times a week through summer, more for pots, and mulch 50mm deep clear of the stem. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser in early spring, midsummer and early autumn.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after the main flush to keep the shape dense. Avoid hard pruning in winter, since the flower buds are already forming.

What to expect when it arrives

This gardenia is grown as tube stock, in 140mm pots in packs of ten and in 200mm pots in packs of six. Tubes are young and single stemmed, the value option for a hedge. The 140mm and 200mm plants are branched and usually flower in their first summer.

Gardenias are sensitive to sudden change, so a few yellow leaves after transit are normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Water in well, hold off feeding for three to four weeks, and expect new growth within a month in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to grow and care for gardenias
• Browse every gardenia we grow
• Shop fragrant plants for the garden
• A guide to the most fragrant plants for Australian gardens

Common questions

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Nearly always a nutrient issue driven by soil pH. Yellow between green veins points to iron, yellowing on older leaves to magnesium. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser and check the soil is not sitting wet.

Why are the buds dropping before they open?

Bud drop comes from inconsistent watering, a sudden move or a cold snap. Keep the soil evenly moist through the budding period, and avoid relocating a plant once buds have formed.

Is it safe for pets?

Gardenias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Eating leaves or berries can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. It is rarely serious, but choose another shrub if your pet grazes on plants.