Frost Proof Gardenia
Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Frost Proof Gardenia
Frost Proof Gardenia are relatively new entrants into the world of gardening and they have the potential to make a dramatic impact on landscaping and gardening choices from here on out.
Gardenias have long been loved and much pain has been taken to cultivate these plants in gardens and greenhouses. The look and fragrance of the Gardenia has won it many fans and it has acquired the ability to communicate romance and classy taste if it is part of the décor whether inside your house or out in your garden. While this has motivated many a gardener to invest a lot of time and energy in the Gardenia it has not always adapted well to the outdoors. It has been particularly difficult for those who live in places with marked seasonal changes to be effective in making these plants bloom. One of the biggest problems about having these evergreen shrubs in the garden has been their extreme sensitivity to late season frost. You plant your Gardenia thinking that spring is here and start imagining the joys of walking past the plant after it blooms only to have your dreams dashed by a late frost. Traditional Gardenia breeds have not tended to have the hardiness to deal with this and have stopped producing any flowers after even one exposure to over-night frost.
So plant breeders have prioritized improving the frost hardiness of this species and so today we have the much touted Frost Proof Gardenia. Unlike other breeds which tend to promptly discard all their flower buds in the event of a frost, this breed is proving that it has the ability to withstand some cold. This way even if your spring does not follow expected weather patterns, you are assured of your gardenia blooms.
Frost Proof Gardenia also seems a safer option for those who seek to avoid using chemicals because while traditionally Gardenia has been susceptible to insects the new plant is more insect resistant. The newer breed of Gardenias are being promoted as being more resilient not only to cold weather but also more adaptable to varying soil conditions and also fairly insect resistant. This Frost Proof Gardenia seems like an incredibly perfect package and the fact that it won the "2007 Garden Writers Best Plants Award" suggests that it may not all be just marketing hype.
Physically, the new plant retains the beauty of the traditional bloom. The flowers on the Frost Proof Gardenia have thick double layered petals in the striking white one associates with the Gardenia. Large and velvety, these white flowers mostly bloom in pairs and the flowering season starts typically in late spring. The flowers are said to last longer than in earlier breeds of the gardenia. The hybridizing has not impacted the classic gardenia fragrance.
The Frost Proof Gardenia is of medium texture and fast growing and it will be easy to incorporate this evergreen shrub in zones with the 6-9 hardiness range. The foliage of the plant has shiny and rich deep-green colored leaves which last throughout the year. The well branched shrub has natural mound shape that will be easy to maintain with minimal pruning.
The Frost Proof Gardenia has grown well in uniformly moist, acidic solid that is rich in humus and well drained. The plant seems to handle minimal watering once it has become established which makes it neglect proof. If you are planting this outdoors just make sure that you pick a place where there is some protection against harsh cold winds while still allowing the plant to have adequate air circulation.
It reaches a height of 4 to 5 feet at maturity. The relatively smaller size of this shrub may make it more versatile in terms of how it fits in a garden’s layout. The Frost Proof Gardenia can fit in under a window and not obstruct the view and it can work in landscaping planned around graduated heights. The bushiness of this evergreen plant also makes it a candidate for use as a natural hedge. The spread and the density of the plant lends itself to such use and by pruning it, it is easy to keep it looking well tended and yet natural. It will give you a hedge that looks good and smells great.