Gardenia jasminoides ‘Diamond’

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Diamond’ is a compact evergreen shrub grown indoors for its glossy dark leaves and heavily scented, double white flowers. The blooms open cream to pure white and carry a rich, jasmine-like perfume that can fill a room. It is one of the more manageable gardenias for pot culture and a bright indoor spot.

Origins

Gardenia jasminoides comes from China, Taiwan and Japan, and belongs to the Rubiaceae family, alongside coffee and pentas. In the UK it is grown mainly as a flowering houseplant or conservatory plant, because it needs consistent warmth and does not enjoy cold, wet winters outdoors in most of the country.

Care

Give it bright light with a little gentle morning sun, and keep it out of scorching midday sun through glass. Gardenias are acid lovers, so pot into ericaceous compost and water with rainwater or filtered water where you can, keeping the compost evenly moist but never waterlogged. It likes warmth and steady humidity, so mist the air or stand the pot on a damp pebble tray. Buds can drop if the plant is moved, chilled or allowed to dry out, so aim to keep its conditions as stable as possible. Gardenia is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, so keep it out of their reach.