🌿 Variegated Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides variegata) – 7 Gallon

The Variegated Gardenia takes the classic Southern favorite to the next level with its striking, cream-edged foliage and intoxicatingly fragrant white blooms. This evergreen shrub combines year-round ornamental beauty with the traditional charm of gardenias, making it perfect for hedges, specimens, or patio accents. Its bold leaves catch the eye even when not in bloom, ensuring this plant always has a starring role in the landscape.

✨ History & Significance

Gardenias have long been a staple in Southern gardens, cherished for their heavenly fragrance and elegant white blooms. The variegated form adds a modern twist with foliage marbled in creamy white and green. In the language of flowers, gardenias symbolize purity, joy, and secret love. With its stunning foliage, this variety also represents uniqueness and sophistication, making it a prized addition to refined landscapes.

🌺 Bloom & Flower Form

• Type: Gardenia jasminoides variegata

• Bloom Time: Late spring through summer, with sporadic blooms into early fall

• Flowers: Large, creamy white, rose-like blossoms with strong fragrance

• Meaning: Represents purity, grace, joy, and love

🌿 Growth Habit

• Mature Size: Reaches 4–6 ft tall × 3–5 ft wide at maturity

• Habit: Compact, rounded, evergreen shrub

• Foliage: Variegated, glossy dark green with creamy-white margins for year-round beauty

🌱 Care Instructions

• Light: Thrives in partial shade to filtered sun; tolerates morning sun with afternoon protection

• Soil: Acidic, organic-rich, moist but well-drained soil

• Watering: Keep evenly moist; do not allow soil to dry out completely

• Fertilizer: Feed with an acid-loving fertilizer (camellia/azalea blend) in spring and midsummer for healthy leaves and abundant blooms

• Pruning: Prune after flowering to shape lightly and remove spent blooms; avoid heavy pruning late in the season

🌼 Complimentary Plant Pairings

• Camellias for staggered seasonal bloom displays

• Azaleas & Rhododendrons for spring bursts of color

• Hydrangeas for summer flowers to balance fragrance

• Ferns & Hostas to complement variegated foliage in shaded beds

• Boxwoods for structured evergreen pairings

🌟 Why Variegated Gardenia is Important

This variegated form elevates the classic gardenia into a year-round ornamental shrub with show-stopping foliage and signature fragrance. Its dual beauty—striking leaves and exquisite flowers—makes it a versatile plant for both formal landscapes and cottage-style gardens. For gardeners who love southern elegance with a modern twist, the Variegated Gardenia is a must-have.

🪴 Variegated Gardenia (7 Gallon) – A Southern classic with a modern touch: fragrant white blooms and cream-edged evergreen leaves that shine in every season.