Gardenia ‘O So Fine’

Gardenia 'O So Fine' (Gardenia augusta 'O So Fine') is the compact, fine leaved gardenia for edging and low hedging, holding at about 80cm tall and wide. White flowers open through the warm months with the heavy sweet scent the genus is known for, carried on a far tidier plant than the older varieties. It takes heat and humidity without sulking.

Why you'll love it

• Scent at the right height. The flowers sit near knee height along a path or a bed edge, which is where you actually notice them.
• It stays small on its own. Roughly 80cm each way, so a low hedge holds its line with a light trim instead of constant cutting back.
• Fine foliage, dense habit. Small glossy leaves on close branching, so the plant looks neat even out of flower.
• Warm climate reliability. Heat tolerant and humidity tolerant, which is why it performs in tropical and subtropical gardens where fussier shrubs struggle.

Where it works best

Borders and low hedging. Plant 0.5m apart for a continuous low hedge. At that spacing the plants knit within two seasons and stay dense right down at the base.

Pots and containers. A 300mm to 400mm pot suits it, and beside a door or a seat the scent is put to good use. Keep the mix damp, because potted gardenias yellow quickly if they dry out.

Mass planting. Repeat it at 0.5m spacing through a front bed for an even, low block of green.

Growing Gardenia 'O So Fine' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade, with protection from harsh afternoon sun in hot inland gardens. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. It takes light frost only, so frost prone gardens should grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover for winter.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and full of organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting, and mulch 75mm deep kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Even moisture is the key to keeping the leaves green, since a dry spell brings on yellowing and bud drop. Feed with a gardenia and azalea fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer.

Pruning. A light trim once the main flush finishes, taking no more than a third. That keeps the hedge line tight without removing the wood that carries the next round of buds.

What to expect when it arrives

This gardenia is supplied as tube stock, a young rooted plant roughly 10cm to 20cm tall in a slim pot. Tube stock is the economical way to plant a long border, and small plants establish faster than most people expect, though allow two seasons before the hedge reads as continuous.

Plant it out promptly rather than holding it in the tube, water daily for the first fortnight, and keep the bed weeded while the plants are small. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete gardenia care guide
• Browse the full gardenia range
• More fragrant plants for the garden
• Why tubestock is the value choice for mass planting

Common questions

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Usually an iron or magnesium deficiency brought on by alkaline soil or uneven watering. Apply iron chelates, mulch to hold moisture, and feed with a fertiliser formulated for acid loving plants.

How far apart for a low hedge?

0.5m apart in a single row. Any tighter and the plants compete for water and food without closing the line any sooner.

Will it grow in a cold garden?

Only with protection. It tolerates light frost but not a hard one, so in cool districts grow it in a container and shift it to a sheltered spot over winter.

How long until it flowers?

From tube stock, expect the first useful flush in the second warm season. Feeding and steady moisture through spring make the difference.