African Gardenia

I was surprised to read one grower's dislike of the fragrance. Smell I guess can be very subjective. I like the fragrance, but I would ...Read Morenot go so far as to say it smells like a gardenia. It has a more pungent/musky aroma. I grow this plant as a house plant in Western Washington in a west facing window that does not get much sunlight with the help of artificial lighting. It was getting a bit unkempt looking, so last fall I cut it back to about a two inch branch. It is now blooming again in December at about 10". I enjoy being able to enjoy the fragrance from about 8 feet away.

One of my small rooted cuttings just flowered. Each flower which measure about 1"/2.5cm across opened overnight and lasted about two days...Read More. The fragrance to me is a mix of gardenia and menthol (as used in heat rub lotions).

I have know and have grown this plant for many, many years having first collected specimens out of the bush close to where I lived in Du...Read Morerban.

They grow naturally close to the coast in the subtropical to tropical climate of Durban in coastal forest in light to deep shade in very sandy soil well enriched with leaf compost . In cultivation I have found that they tend to be a little difficult to grow well in containers but do very well in well composted sandy soil even tolerating full sun in the garden provided they get enough water where they flower profusely, with far more flowers than they produce in shade. I have found that when grown in pots they tend to require more nitrogen than many other plants. As far as the fragrance is concerned the fragrance of the specimens that I have is most pleasant but so strong that if left inside the house at night when they produce their fragrance to attract night flying moths which are responsible for pollination they give me a bad head ache. The delightful fragrance of only one plant out in the garden can be smelt at a great distance on a calm warm night.

They can be a little slow getting started in particular if the plants purchased were not in tip top condition but once happy in the ground they grow at a much faster rate.

Yes, a painfully slow grower for me as well, in a pot outoors in Fort Lauderdale. It sat around for the greater part of a year after I b...Read Moreought it, ate, drank, lounged in the sun, and did little else. I repotted it in new Miracle Gro at the beginning of February, and it finally gave me a flush of blooms on March. Looks to have some new buds forming, in April, too. Smelled wonderful. Not a traditional gardenia; reminds me of the blooms of a coffee plant I once had, maybe also a little like a citrus flower.