Variegated August Beauty Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Variegata’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 8a-11 Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 4-5′

Width at Maturity: 3-4′

Spacing: 3′ for solid hedge; 8’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Dense, Upright

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: 2-3″

Flowering Period: Late-Spring, Summer

Flower Type: Double

Fragrant Flowers: Yes – extremely fragrant!

Foliage Color: White edged in Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.0 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

On what has to be the most unique Gardenia variety we’ve grown, the large, glossy, boldly variegated cream-white leaves edged in dark green are truly striking! What’s more, from late spring to summer the Variegated August beauty Gardenia produces an abundance of waxy, ivory colored double blooms. These 2 to 3 inch diameter blooms are somewhat lost against the bright foliage but you’ll know they’re there when you catch a whiff of their intoxicating sweet aroma. There’s nothing like the fragrance of gardenia. The flowers and foliage are excellent for cutting to use in indoor flower arrangements. We’ve found this one to be a little slower growing than some of its faster growing cousins, which doesn’t bother us at all!

As with other Gardenia jasminoides varieties, for best performance, we suggest filtered sun or shade during the mid-afternoon hours. Morning and evening sun are okay.

Note: Here in north central Georgia USDA Zone 8a, the Variegated August Beauty Gardenia has done very well in our gardens since planting it spring of 2015. As with most other gardenia, this variegated selection will lose a portion of its leaves after late winter in early spring.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, the Variegated Gardenia is idea for use as an accent or in groupings in home foundation plantings and landscape borders. Because they like a break from the midday afternoon sun and cold northwesterly winds, in the colder range were they will grow (USDA Zones 8a-8b) gardenia are best planted on the east side of the home or other structures. Needless to say gardenias are fine additions to sensory gardens and near windows or outdoor living spaces where the fragrance can be enjoyed.

Suggested Spacing: 3 feet apart for solid hedge; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Gardenia are exceptionally easy to grow in moist but well-drained soils of average fertility and part sun, preferably morning sun with some shade or filtered sun in the mid afternoon hours. As with so many other ornamental plants, constantly soggy or wet soils can cause root rot or other plant diseases. As mentioned above, because they like a break from the midday afternoon sun and cold northwesterly winds, in the colder range were they will grow (USDA Zones 8a-8b) gardenia are best planted on the east side of the home or other structures. USDA Zones: 8a-11 Find Your Zone

Soil pH is important!

To flower their best and maintain deep green foliage color, all Gardenia require an acid to moderately acid soil ranging from 4.5 to 6.0 on the pH scale. If your soil is alkaline foliage will turn pale-green to yellow and flowering will be diminished.

Soil pH is a measurement of the alkalinity or acidity of soil and is measured on a scale of 1-14, with 7 as the neutral mark. Any measurement below 7 indicates acid soil conditions, and anything above 7 indicates alkaline. If you’re unsure about the pH of your soil and whether or not it’s suitable for growing Gardenia it’s a good idea to test the soil pH in the planting area. You can quickly test soil pH with an inexpensive soil pH tester probe. To raise the pH (make more alkaline) you can add pelletized limestone to the soil. To lower the pH (make more acid) you can apply Soil Sulfur, Aluminum Sulfate, or Chelated Iron. Adding organic compost to the soil or using compost as mulch can also help to increase acidity and maintain acid soil conditions.

Learn More: What is Soil pH & How To Test & Adjust It

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to get advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Gardenia plants…

How To Plant & Care For Gardenias

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