Variegated Creeping Dwarf Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Variegated Radicans’ – Syn. Gardenia augusta ‘Radicans Variegata’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 8a-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 12-18″

Width at Maturity: 2-3′

Spacing: 2′ for mass plantings; 4’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Mounding, Trailing/Spreading

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: 2″

Flowering Period: Mid- to Late-Spring, Early Summer

Flower Type: Double

Fragrant Flowers: Yes – extremely fragrant!

Foliage Color: Dark Green edged in White

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, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

Dwarf Gardenia have always been loved for their fragrant flowers that fill garden spaces with a captivating, exotic aroma during spring and into summer.

In 2014, we were at a trade show and were blown away when we ran across a new variety of dwarf gardenia that had variegated leaves…with LOTS of variegation! Of course we just had to have some. So we ordered a few to plant and test in the Wilson Bros Gardens. Because it was a variegated variety, we weren’t sure if it would be as cold hardy as the other green leaved hardy varieties we’ve had growing in the gardens for years. However, since then, the plants have performed superbly in our Zone 8a Georgia gardens, handling temperatures in the low teens with absolutely no damage.

Beautiful foliage and a heavenly scent make the Variegated Dwarf Gardenia a masterpiece of creation. A vigorous grower, the leaves are a palette of greens and whites that boast year-round beauty. The double-white blossoms carry that famous rich fragrance from spring through summer. This is the best variegated cultivar we’ve seen and grown to date. It’s a really neat variety that provides unique color and texture in containers or garden beds.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 12 to 18 inches or so tall and 2 to 3 feet wide or more over time, the Variegated Creeping Gardenia is ideal for use as a specimen in smaller landscape spaces or in groupings or as a lovely border in larger landscape spaces. The perfect size for use as a solo or mixed with other plants in planter boxes or pots. A fine addition to fragrance gardens and white theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 2 feet apart for solid hedge; 4 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. The east side of homes or other structures is best as plants will get afternoon shade during summer and shelter for northwest winds during winter. As with so many other ornamental plants, constantly soggy or wet soils can cause root rot or other plant diseases. 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 a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Gardenia plants.

How To Plant & Care For Gardenias

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us

I purchased three of these because I love the small gardenia with verigated leaves to boot! My local nursery will not stock them; says they are hard to grow, but maybe it is the size and health of the plant when purchased. My three from Wilson Bros are doing great even though I bought them in late June.———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The little gardenia arrived in a timely fashion and in great condition, as it has always been the case with every purchase I have made from this company. It was covered in beautifully scented flowers, with a little bit more lemony scent than the typical larger gardenias. I planted it in front of a window and so far it’s been doing great (it’s been only a few weeks). Ideal size for planting in front of lower windows and the striped leaves have a really unique look. Very happy with this purchase.—————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Plant came in good condition. Ordered several different plants and this company did not trim the plants so they could jam them all in one shipping box (like I’ve had other online companies do). They fit what could comfortably fit and shipped more than one box. It’s obvious they care about the quality they ship out. They went to the top of my online order list! And the plant were a nice size and healthy.———————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The plant I ordered for my husband arrived in excellent condition. It was packaged well for shipping and well hydrated.———————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope your husband enjoys it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I love Wilson Bros. Gardens as the plants are always so strong and healthy as well as unique. Arrived in wonderful condition as they are so well packed. This variegated dwarf gardenia is simply stunning. We have it as the curve of a semi-shade garden on the side of our house and the variegation adds such a nice ‘pop’ of color and the size of the plants is perfect. They arrived covered in blooms as we can hardly wait for the heavenly scent. Highly, highly recommend this plant and this seller.———————————————————–Wow! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG