Types of Gardenias: 8 Popular Gardenia Varieties
Gardenias are a beautiful flower that can brighten up any space. They come in all shapes and sizes, from delicate to strong, from single-petal to multi-petal. In this article, we’ll look at the different types of gardenias.
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How Many Species Are There Of Gardenia?
There are 200 plus species of gardenia flowers. Of these, the biggest (and therefore most well-known) is Gardenia jasminoides. Many gardenia varieties look similar to other species, so it can be confusing.
Gardenias typically come in red and yellow, white and pink flowers with a slightly bitter taste — perfect for enjoying fresh from the vine! They bloom indoors through the winter months while they wait for warmer weather outside.
Most Popular Varieties of Gardenia
1. Gardenia Jasminoides – August Beauty
The gardenia jasminoides is one of the most popular plants for hanging baskets in central and southern Florida. Sometimes called August Beauties, these great vines grow 4 to 6 feet high when grown as an outdoor climber or tied to a supporting frame above the roof edge. This vine loves the partial shade of Central Florida’s flatwoods.
2. Gardenia Jasminoides – Aimee
The gardenia jasminoides named after the inspiring work of Aimee Semple McPherson is an easy-to-grow plant that produces clusters of white flowers over a long season. They are especially blooming in late winter or early spring when temperatures are cooler.
3. Gardenia Jasminoides – Mystery
This is a gardenia that many do not own. With its unique, pastel yellow coloring and white flowers you will know what this one looks like if someone brings it to your door in an antique bowl or container with blooms of red roses at its base. It also likes partial shade.
4. Gardenia Jasminoides – Miami Supreme
In the Winter, blooms of this gardenia jasminoides can be found dangling from a farmhouse window or an old magnolia tree. It is a tough plant that tolerates compact shade and sits up well under irregular fashions. This perennial grows to about 2 feet tall and can be brought inside.
5. Gardenia Jasminoides – Veitchii
The mystery of this gardenia jasminoides is the look of irritation on your loved one’s face if you bring it to flower time and tell her there will be blossoms in 10 years. It does like partial shade and tends to develop a scrambling habit, but its small shallow
6. Gardenia Jasminoides – Kleim’s Hardy
This gardenia, which is extremely cold-hardy, is also more tolerant of direct sunshine than other types. It has a mounded, semi-dwarf growth style, making it an excellent container plant. The solitary blooms bloom in late spring, and with proper care and luck, you may see another bloom in the fall.
7. Gardenia Jasminoides – Radicans
This gardenia jasminoides has very large foliage. It is just the right size for potted gardening and also makes a good hanging plant. The vine does not take drainage, shade or ornamentals well; you definitely want to keep it away from trees if you are considering this plant in soil.
8. Gardenia Jasminoides – Shooting Star
This gardenia jasminoides is a Victorian classic, most often found in cottage gardens. It has creamy white flowers that are drooping most of the time but sometimes pops up to bloom if it’s feeling bold. Vines are typically pruned each spring to encourage foliage growth. A shade-tolerant variety, it grows to only 2 feet in height and comes in many colors such as reds and whites.
How to Identify a Gardenia?
1. Size and Type: A gardenias bloom may be small compared to other flowers but the leaves are big –much bigger than those of many shrubs. Gardenias also has an upright, stout form. If you notice that the flowers are larger than other varieties, then this is what you’re looking at if it is a gardenia variety (tip: check how many flower petals there are).
2. Shapes of the flower: Gardenia have few flowers with single petals, but many with many small petals which stand on what looks like “pillows.” This is often compared to jazz music, so the classification of gardenia names are named after musicians.(most popular one – Jasminoides).
3. Colors and patterns of their flowers: Gardenias have a wide variety of colors and patterns on their flowers. The flower color can be blue, pink, cream, etc., sometimes with contrast in texture or background. As well as colored flowers Gardenias have white flowers too – some gardenias have small bright yellow spots within the petals.
What varieties of gardenia are there and what’s their difference?
There are many different varieties of gardenia, but they can be divided into two categories. The two types are Gardenia jasminoides and Gardenia augusta. The difference between the two is that Gardenia augusta has larger flowers that have a lighter color than those of Gardenia jasminoides. There are several varieties in the dual flower class that have assorted colors and sizes.