Sorry, roses, gardenias are one of the most intoxicating shrubs for intense summer fragrance – here's how to grow one and keep it thriving
Fill your garden with lush, sweet scent and gorgeous blooms
With their gorgeous creamy-white blooms, lush evergreen foliage and sweet, heady fragrance, gardenias are the ultimate summer plant. But while there’s a lot to love about gardenias, they do have a reputation as being tricky plants to grow, so ensuring they have the right growing conditions and a little extra TLC is a must.
A flowering fragrant shrub, gardenias were traditionally grown indoors in conservatories and summer houses as they require plenty of warmth, humidity and bright, indirect light to thrive. But in recent years, hardier outdoor varieties of gardenia have been developed that can be grown in sheltered spots or milder areas outdoors.
Whether growing a gardenia in a garden border or as a flowering container idea on a small patio, positioning it where you can take it in and enjoy the intense fragrance is a must, so always try to place your gardenia near an outdoor seating area, beside an entranceway or close to a window if you can.
1. Choose the right spot
While indoor gardenias can be tricky to master, growing outdoor gardenias is much more straightforward. Gardenias like warmth and bright light, but they don’t like strong sun which can scorch the leaves and make flowers wilt. So choose a spot that gets plenty of light but is out of direct sunlight, such as an area of dappled shade cast by larger plants in a flower bed or border, which will also help provide shelter from wind.
‘Keep gardenias out of strong mid-day sun and try not to position in a very exposed area as both can stress the plant and affect flowering,’ advises Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres.
Growing gardenias in containers outside is also worth considering, as they can be moved somewhere sheltered over winter, such as inside a porch, conservatory or greenhouse which will protect them from frost and harsh weather.
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2. Ensure soil conditions are right
‘Gardenias do best in acidic soil, so choosing an ericaceous compost is the best option,’ advises Julian. ‘Ericaceous compost, like this Verve Ericaceous Peat-free Compost, £7 at B&Q, is specially formulated for acid‑loving plants such as gardenias, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, as these plants require a lower soil pH to absorb nutrients effectively.’
‘Ericaceous compost contains materials such as pine bark and peat substitutes that help maintain acidity while providing iron and micronutrients essential for healthy growth. Its airy, moisture‑retentive structure also supports strong root development and vibrant flowering.’
Check your soil’s PH levels by using a kit, like this PH soil test kit, £7.89 at Amazon. To change soil PH and make it more acidic, in addition to adding organic matter or an ericaceous compost, you can also try adding ferrous sulfate to the water once a month, which adds soluble iron and can help prevent gardenia’s leaves from yellowing.
3. Ensure gardenias are well-hydrated
‘Gardenias prefer light, steady moisture, so keep the soil moist but not waterlogged,’ advises Julian. ‘Rainwater is best if you can manage it from a water butt, especially in hard water areas, as gardenias don’t like alkaline conditions.’
If your gardenia starts to drop flower buds or the leaves dry out, it’s a sign that it needs more water. Check how moist the soil is by digging your finger in - the soil should feel damp and hold together, but not feel muddy or wet.
Water gardenias at the base of the plant around the trunk. If your gardenia is in a container, empty any excess water in the saucer about 20 minutes after watering so the gardenia isn’t left sitting in water.
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4. Fertilise regularly
Gardenias are hungry plants, so to keep them thriving, feed every two weeks over the spring and summer months. Use an ericaceous liquid feed, such as this Miracle-Gro Ericaceous Liquid Plant Food, £8.99 from Amazon, which can be diluted in a watering can and applied directly to the soil around the plant.
Alternatively, go for a slow release specialist feed, like Miracle-Gro Ericaceous Plant Food Granules, £9.45, from B&Q, which should be sprinkled evenly over the soil around the plant and gently forked in and watered to activate. This will only need to be applied once at the start of the season.
5. Keep gardenias in shape
To keep gardenia bushes in shape over the summer months, make sure to deadhead them regularly, which will redirect energy from seed production into creating more blooms.
Look for flowers that are wilting and turning brown and gently pinch or snip off any faded blooms, using clean, sharp secateurs, like these Burgon & Ball ergo deadheader snips, £12.99, Crocus. Cut off the entire spent bloom just above a leaf set. Collect in a trug or let them drop onto the soil and naturally compost down into mulch.
So there you have it, give your gardenia plants some TLC and they'll thrive. Let us know if you have your own gardenia and how it is faring.
