Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

$250.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 40cm/45L

30cm/33cm 40cm/45L

Current Stock Height Guides

30cm/33cm: Enquire within for height guide information.
40cm/45L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1m to 1.5m

Mature Width: 1m to 1.5m

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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About Your New Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides 'Florida' produces waxy creamy-white double flowers with a perfume strong enough to scent a whole courtyard, carried generously through spring and summer against glossy dark green foliage. Few shrubs deliver this much fragrance from a plant this small.

'Florida' grows to just 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide at 20 to 40 centimetres per year, holding a naturally compact rounded habit. That scale makes it ideal for pots beside a door or seating area where the scent can be appreciated, for low hedging, and for the front of a mixed border.

'Florida' prefers full sun to part shade with protection from hot afternoon sun, and needs well-drained, slightly acidic soil kept consistently moist. It is frost sensitive, so in cold districts choose a sheltered position or grow it in a pot that can be moved.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Gardenia jasminoides 'Florida'

How big does Gardenia 'Florida' grow?

'Florida' grows to 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a naturally compact rounded shrub. It is one of the smaller gardenias and holds its shape with minimal pruning.

When does Gardenia 'Florida' flower?

Flowering runs through spring and summer, with waxy creamy-white double flowers produced generously across the plant. The perfume is strongest in the evening.

Can Gardenia 'Florida' be grown in a pot?

Yes. Its compact size makes it one of the best gardenias for pots. Use a premium potting mix formulated for acid-loving plants and keep the pot consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Why are my gardenia leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing between the leaf veins usually indicates iron deficiency, which is common when soil pH is too high. Feed with an acidic fertiliser or iron chelate and mulch with composted pine bark.

Is Gardenia 'Florida' frost tolerant?

No. It is frost sensitive and may be damaged by frost. Choose a sheltered position in cold districts, or grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover through winter.

Can 'Florida' be used as a low hedge?

Yes. Plant 0.8 to 1 metre apart for a low fragrant evergreen hedge. Trim lightly after the main flowering flush to keep the line even.

What soil and feeding does Gardenia 'Florida' need?

It wants well-drained, slightly acidic soil with consistent moisture. Feed with a fertiliser formulated for acid-loving plants in early spring and again after flowering.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Screening or Privacy
Council or Civic Landscapes

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia works in an:

Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia Evergreen or Deciduous?

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1m to 1.5m

Mature Width: 1m to 1.5m

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate).

Growth Rate of Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

Is Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia frost tolerant?

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is Frost Sensitive – May suffer damage from frost, best in frost-free or protected spots.

Does Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia Flower?

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ produces large highly fragrant double white flowers from spring through summer, often with repeat flowering in warmer conditions. The blooms contrast beautifully against the glossy dark green foliage, creating an elegant and luxurious seasonal display.

Does Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring
Summer

Flower Type:

Fragrant
Pollinator-attracting

Flower Colour:

White

Is Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia an Australian Native Tree?

No

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is Native to Southern China and Japan, where Gardenia jasminoides grows naturally in warm, humid forests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia ?

Its highly fragrant blooms attract bees, hoverflies, butterflies and night-time pollinating moths, while the dense evergreen foliage provides shelter for small birds and beneficial garden insects. The nectar-rich flowers support a broad range of pollinators, adding strong biodiversity value to subtropical and cottage gardens.

How much Sunlight does Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia need?

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ performs best in well-drained, slightly acidic loam or sandy loam soils. It struggles in alkaline or heavy clay soils unless improved with organic matter and soil acidifiers to increase drainage and support the acidity gardenias require. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then maintain deep, consistent watering as the plant matures to support healthy foliage, strong flowering and long-term vigour.

Is Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia Drought Tolerant?

Is Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering, and even once established ‘Florida’ has low to moderate drought tolerance. It performs best with consistent moisture and benefits from deep, reliable watering during hot or dry weather to maintain bud formation, flower quality and vibrant foliage.

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How To Plant Your Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, keep the root zone consistently moist with weekly deep watering and additional water during hot dry spells.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape if used as hedging or screening. For a clear trunk feature, remove lower branches as the tree grows.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for scale or sooty mould in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Gardenia jasminoides ‘Florida’ – Florida Gardenia in Different Soil

Gardenia jasminoides performs best in rich, well-drained loam with a slightly acidic pH and consistent moisture. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage and organic matter are managed well.

Sandy soil: Free-draining but enrich heavily with compost and mulch deeply to hold moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost, and mound slightly to lift the root zone.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent flowering.

pH: Slightly acidic preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter or pine bark to maintain levels naturally.