Gardenia jasminoides Summer Snow

Gardenia jasminoides Summer Snow, the result of 10 years of research in the U.S.A, is the largest and most exciting of hardy gardenias! This fantastic shrub, which combines multiple qualities, is suitable for cultivation in the ground in many regions, but exclusively in slightly acidic soil. This vigorous variety shows rapid growth, better resistance to air and soil drought, produces large evergreen leaves, and beautiful, semi-double, extremely fragrant flowers in summer. It is an exceptional plant that deserves a prominent place in a large pot on the terrace or close to the house, under a window or near the entrance.

Gardenia jasminoides is a shrub from the Rubiaceae family, native to Asia. It is frequently found in Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, and India, in mild and humid, subtropical to tropical climates. Its cultivation in China dates back at least a thousand years, and in recent years numerous American cultivars of varying hardiness have been produced.

'Summer Snow', from which it originates, stands out for its vigour, cold resistance, and better tolerance to air and soil drought. It quickly forms a very beautiful shrub with a bushy, flexible, and slightly spreading habit, reaching 1 m (3 ft 4 in) all around in pots, 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) in the ground under suitable conditions. Its branches are quite flexible. Its large, waxy-textured, semi-double white flowers sometimes reach 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter. Their scent is powerful, delightfully intoxicating, addictive. They bloom in May-June, earlier or later depending on the climate. They are less numerous than those of other hardy gardenias. They appear solitarily at the axils of the leaves, at the top of the branches, measuring 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3.1 in) in diameter and composed of cream-white petals that fade to pale yellow. The flowers stand out well against the shiny dark green leaves, which are larger than those of usual varieties. They are entire, thick, leathery, with very prominent veins. Its bark is grayish. Gardenia have a very long lifespan and are more floriferous in their young age.

Despite their somewhat demanding nature, Gardenias are among the most coveted shrubs by plant enthusiasts. It is undeniable that when the conditions are met, the gardenia proves to be one of the most beautiful plant species. However, the hardiness of certain varieties like Summer Snow, which has been proven in the ground up to the Paris region, represents a horticultural research achievement. It should of course be moderated depending on the duration of frosts, exposure to dry and cold winds, and soil moisture content. It is possible to successfully cultivate the Summer Snow gardenia in the ground, in a sheltered location and in non-limestone soil. It also grows very well in pots, where it will withstand moderately harsh winters without damage. It is often advisable, outside of privileged regions, to store it in a cold greenhouse during winter as a precaution. In the garden, camellias, rhododendrons, pieris, and kalmias will make excellent companions for this wonderful shrub.