Gardenia thunbergia

What are the garden uses for Gardenia thunbergia in NZ?

Gardenia thunbergia is a much-loved shrub that is perfect for creating garden appeal. It can be clipped into a hedge, included in a mixed planting, planted around outdoor living areas, included in tropical or “white” gardens, or maintained in a container. It is a great complement to a modern or cottage garden, bringing fragrance and elegance to a space. It is the gorgeous foliage and flowers that makes this Gardenia an excellent choice for a NZ garden.

Gardenia thunbergia hedge spacing

The optimum plant spacing for a Gardenia thunbergia hedge is 40 cm between the plants. Spacing the plants out further will result in a wider hedge that takes longer to fill in. Be sure to use a stringline to get the line straight and start lightly trimming the sides once the plants show active growth. It makes a lovely hedge between 1.5-2 m tall.

Gardenia thunbergia for sale

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What growing conditions are best for Gardenia thunbergia?

Gardenia thunbergia grows best in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of light frost only and does require shelter from wind. A soil rich in organic matter that does not dry out during summer is ideal. Clay soil, heavy soils, or areas with wetness should be avoided as the plants will struggle and are likely to fail. Heavy shade positions should be avoided also. The goal is to ensure they receive good amounts of dappled sunlight or about 3-4 hours of direct sun per day.

Gardenia thunbergia care

Gardenia thunbergia can be susceptible to various problems if not cared for correctly. Gardenias are acid-loving plants and alkaline soils can lead to nutrient deficiencies, particularly iron chlorosis, which causes yellowing leaves. It is very important to make sure the soil is acidic, and to use acidic fertilisers. Both overwatering and underwatering can cause problems. Overwatering leads to root rot, while underwatering causes wilting and bud drop. They need consistent moisture, and a well-drained soil. Common pests include aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites. Gardenias are susceptible to fungal diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spots, anthracnose, and sooty mould. Both the pests and diseases can easily be controlled with an appropriate agrichemical but only if levels start to impact the aesthetics and health of the plant.

Gardenia thunbergia propagation

Gardenia thunbergia are easily propagated from stem cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually taken from autumn until mid-spring. A stem about 8-10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with 2-3 leaves at the top and just below a node. A nick is taken off the base of the cutting to expose more tissue. The cutting is dipped in rooting hormone, then inserted into pumice. The tray of cuttings is placed under mist with bottom heat also applied. The cuttings will have taken root inside of five weeks as a rule.