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Flower Spotlight: Gardenia

Flower Spotlight: Gardenia

There are many beautiful flowers that are perfect for different occasions. Today, we will focus on the Gardenia—a simple, elegant and aromatic bloom.

Origins and Symbolism

Gardenias are native to Africa, Asia, Australasia and Oceania. This flower was named after Alexander Garden, a Scottish physician and naturalist who lived in Charleston, South Carolina. Gardenia means “garden flower” and is often used in weddings to symbolize the love and purity of marriage. A solo gardenia or bouquet tells the recipient “I think I’m in love with you,” also making it the perfect flower to send to your crush!

To Consider

Gardenias are strongly scented and grow in the shape of a star with 5-12 petals. The flower is part of an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 49 ft. tall and needs a lot of sunlight and humidity. This flower is toxic to cats, dogs and horses, so make sure to keep your four-legged friends away from this beauty!

Availability

This flowering plant is part of the coffee family. There are 142 different species that can be found in colors white, ivory and yellow. The most popular species is the Cape Jasmine and it is originally grown in China. Gardenias make beautiful cut flowers, amazing corsages and wedding bouquets or arrangements for decoration. Unfortunately, their vase life is very short, but can be prolonged with good cutting techniques. A single gardenia can be gifted or simply placed in a room, floating in a bowl or dish, to give it a more elegant touch.

When planning a wedding, gardenias are a great choice for flowers. They are not only beautiful, but the symbolism behind it makes them very special. Head to your local florist and surprise someone with gardenias!

How And When To Cut Blooms On A Gardenia

Ask The Plant Expert: I just bought a small gardenia plant, and it came with two buds on it already. One of them bloomed beautifully, but now, after about 6 days, looks like it is ready to go. My question is, do you cut it off? If so, how, and will it bloom again? I really hope that it does because it smells so beautiful. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Sheri

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Sheri, Yes, you can cut the old bloom off. If the conditions are right, gardenias bloom from late spring until fall. Gardenias bloom on new growth, so pruning is a essential.

Blooming depends on a lot of factors. In fact, gardenias are a little temperamental.

  • First, they like a humid environment. However, you should only mist the air surrounding the gardenia, and not the leaves of the plant. Misting the leaves can cause a fungal problem. You can use a humidifier to create the environment they like.
  • Soil moisture is the second contributing factor to blooming. Under-watering or over-watering can cause gardenia bud drop. Keep the soil of the plant uniformly moist, but not soggy.
  • The plant will need a full sun exposure in the house, and a slightly shady exposure outside. Really hot temperatures can inhibit blooming. Gardenias like temperatures around 65° to 70°. They do not like sudden temperature changes. Keep them away from door or air vent drafts.
  • Fertilize your gardenia April through November. You can use a water soluble or granular balanced fertilizer.

I hope this information is helpful.

Haehn Florist in Wapakoneta, OH 45895 419-738-8485 www.haehnflorist.com

Article compliments of flowershopnetwork.com