Gardenia Lacey Lady

Gardenia 'Lacey Lady' (Gardenia jasminoides 'Lacey Lady') is a compact, free flowering gardenia that holds a neat 1m by 1m without shearing. The white blooms carry the heavy sweet scent gardenias are grown for, set against glossy dark evergreen leaves. At this size it fits a border, a courtyard pot or a low hedge along a path, which the older 2m gardenias never could.

Why you'll love it

• Scent where you will actually notice it. Plant it beside a door, a path or an outdoor table and the fragrance carries on warm evenings.
• Naturally compact. It settles at about 1m tall and wide, so it stays in proportion in a small garden without constant cutting back.
• Long flowering. A free flowering selection that repeats through the warm months rather than giving one short burst.
• Coastal and humid tolerant. Salt and humidity are both handled well, so it suits beachside courtyards and steamy northern gardens alike.

Where it works best

Low hedging and borders. Plant 60cm apart for a continuous low hedge or edging along a path. At that spacing the plants knit together within two seasons while each keeps its rounded shape.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider suits it, and container growing holds it near 80cm. Use a quality mix and be honest about watering, because a potted gardenia that dries out drops its buds.

Mass planting. In a larger bed, 60cm to 75cm centres give a low evergreen carpet that flowers, and it takes the light shade under established trees.

Growing Gardenia 'Lacey Lady' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with morning sun and afternoon shelter the ideal in hot inland gardens. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. It takes light frost only, so in cool temperate and hard frosting southern gardens grow it in a pot that can move under cover, or against a warm north facing wall.

Soil. Gardenias want acidic, free draining soil rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting, mulch 75mm deep clear of the stem, and avoid lime or wood ash anywhere near it.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone consistently moist through the first summer, then water deeply twice a week in warm weather. Feed with a fertiliser formulated for gardenias, azaleas and camellias in early spring and again in late summer.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Tip prune lightly after the main flush to keep the shape tight, and remove spent flowers as you pass.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this gardenia in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm plants sold in packs of ten. Tube stock is young and single stemmed, the value choice for edging a long path if you can wait an extra season. The 140mm packs arrive branched and are the practical option for a hedge run.

Some bud drop after transit is normal, not a fault, and the plant sets more once it settles. Expect visible new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing and caring for gardenias
• Compare the full gardenia range
• Browse other fragrant plants
• Plants suited to pots and containers

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?

Space plants 60cm apart in a single row. Closer than that and the centres shade each other out, which thins the base and reduces flowering.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Usually the soil pH has risen or the plant is hungry. Yellow leaves with green veins point to iron deficiency, corrected with iron chelate and an acidic fertiliser; uniformly pale leaves usually mean cold, wet feet over winter.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes, and it is one of the better gardenias for containers at this size. Use a pot 400mm or wider with good drainage, refresh the top of the mix each spring, and keep the water up in summer.