Gardenia White Star

Gardenia 'White Star' (Gardenia 'White Star') is the low, spreading gardenia grown for scent at ground level. It settles at about 60cm tall and 1m wide, wider than it is high, and covers itself in single white flowers shaped like a five pointed star. Planted 50cm apart along a path it gives you fragrance every time you walk past.

Why you'll love it

• Perfume you actually notice. The classic gardenia scent carries on warm still evenings, so a planting near a door or a seat earns its place.
• Low and spreading, not upright. At 60cm by 1m it works as a groundcover or border plant rather than a shrub, so it never blocks a window.
• Built for warmth and humidity. Heat tolerant and humidity tolerant, so it holds condition through a subtropical summer that flattens other flowering plants.
• Low maintenance once settled. Glossy evergreen foliage carries the plant between flushes, with no shaping needed to hold a neat outline.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 50cm apart in a grid. The plants meet within two seasons and cover the soil properly, which keeps weeds down.

Borders and edging. The low profile suits the front of a bed or a strip beside a path, where the flowers sit at knee height.

Pots and small gardens. A 400mm pot holds one plant comfortably. Potted gardenias flower well but dry out faster, so watering has to be consistent.

Growing Gardenia 'White Star' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with morning sun and afternoon shelter the best compromise in hot inland gardens. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates, and takes light frost only.

Soil. This is the part that decides whether you enjoy the plant. Gardenias want a slightly acidic, free draining soil with plenty of compost worked through. In alkaline or limey soils the foliage yellows, and correcting pH matters more than adding fertiliser.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months. Swinging between dry and drenched is what causes bud drop. Feed with an azalea and camellia or gardenia fertiliser in early spring and again after the main flush.

Pruning. Very little. Tip prune lightly once the main flush finishes, to keep the plants dense and even. Avoid cutting late in the season, since next season's buds form on newer wood.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock, and as established plants in 140mm pots in packs of ten. The packs are the sensible buy for a border or mass planting: the whole run is one age, so the bed fills evenly. Tubes cover a large area more cheaply if you can wait an extra season.

Some bud drop after transit is normal, not a fault: the plant is reacting to a change in light and humidity. Water it in well and expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. 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
• Other fragrant garden plants
• Groundcover plants for beds

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it as a groundcover?

Fifty centimetres apart, in a grid rather than a single line. Each plant spreads to about 1m, so they overlap slightly and leave no bare soil showing.

Why are the leaves going yellow?

Yellowing between green veins usually means the soil is too alkaline for the plant to take up iron. Apply an iron chelate for the quick fix, then correct the pH with compost and an acidic fertiliser.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Gardenias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs, and chewing the leaves or berries can cause vomiting or an upset stomach. Plant it out of reach of a pet that grazes on foliage.

Will it grow in a cold garden?

Only with help. It handles light frost, not hard frost, so in cool temperate districts grow it in a pot you can shift to shelter for the coldest months.