Gainesville Landscape Plant of the Month: Frost Proof Gardenia

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Rusty Thompson on February 23rd, 2013

Our Gainesville yards show an a lot of color on many different Gainesville landscape plants in the spring. Many common landscape shrubs take part in this seasonal parade of blooms, and the Gardenia is one of the most popular. Frost proof gardenias, or Gardenia jasminoides, are comprised of shiny green leaves and two- to three-inch white flowers.

The flowers are very fragrant so they're perfect for around a Gainesville backyard patio or at the walkway to the entrance to your home. This flower is used in hedging as well as general Gainesville landscaping and is one of the only plants that don't lose its flowers after a late spring frost. Frost Proof also makes a great evergreen foundation hedge. Bushy and well branched, they look great pruned or left natural. They also adapt to a variety of soil conditions, which is a must for our Gainesville landscape. They also do great in full sun or partial shade, and resist insects and disease.

Older gardenia varieties are known to be insect-prone and finicky. Your soil can’t be too moist or too dry. Then the occasional late frost comes and wipes out your blooms for the whole season. New Frost Proof Gardenias are unaffected by cold snaps and are easy to care for once established, which make them great plants to have in your Gainesville lawn. 

Frost Proof won the “2007 Garden Writers Best Plants Award”.  They’re just as beautiful as they are tough with lots and lots of fragrant flowers spring through summer.  Call our office at (352) 378-LAWN if you'd like to add this plant to your Gainesville yard today!