Gardenia Live Plant – Aimee Cape Jasmine – Double White Fragrant Flowers – 9-12 Inch Tall Shrub

Overview

Introduce a touch of timeless beauty and intoxicating fragrance to your outdoor space with the Aimee Gardenia live plant. Known botanically as Gardenia jasminoides ‘Aimee’, this captivating Cape Jasmine variety is celebrated for its exceptionally large, velvety double white flowers that truly stand out. Originating from humid, subtropical regions, the ‘Aimee’ Gardenia thrives in conditions that mimic its natural habitat, producing an abundance of blooms that can reach 4 to 5 inches in diameter – significantly larger than many other gardenia types. This evergreen shrub not only provides stunning floral displays but also boasts glossy, dark green foliage that offers year-round visual appeal, making it a superb choice for a variety of landscape designs.

The Aimee Gardenia live plant is a vigorous grower, offering a moderate growth rate that allows it to establish itself beautifully in your garden or a prominent container. Its robust nature ensures a prolific bloom cycle, often being one of the first gardenias to flower in spring and continuing to delight well into the growing season. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just beginning, this fragrant gardenia care guide will help you cultivate a thriving specimen. The alluring scent of its blossoms makes it an ideal plant for areas where its perfume can be fully appreciated, such as near entryways, patios, or outdoor seating areas.

Key Benefits

The Aimee Gardenia live plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it a highly sought-after addition to any garden or patio. Its striking features and easy-to-manage nature contribute to a delightful gardening experience.

• Exquisite Fragrance: The most renowned feature of the ‘Aimee’ Gardenia is its wonderfully strong, sweet fragrance. The rich perfume emanating from its double white flowers can transform any outdoor space into a serene and luxurious haven, making it perfect for planting near windows or seating areas.
• Spectacular Blooms: This variety produces some of the largest gardenia flowers, with individual blooms measuring 4-5 inches across. These showy, double white blossoms create a dramatic visual impact against the deep green foliage.
• Extended Bloom Season: Unlike some gardenias, the ‘Aimee’ is one of the first to flower in spring and continues to produce blooms throughout much of the growing season, providing extended periods of beauty and scent.
• Year-Round Appeal: Even when not in bloom, the glossy, dark green evergreen foliage of this Cape Jasmine shrub offers consistent visual interest, ensuring your garden looks vibrant all year long.
• Versatile Landscaping: This compact evergreen shrub is highly versatile. It can be used as a stunning accent plant, a fragrant hedge, a foundation planting, or a magnificent specimen in patio tubs and containers, where its delightful aroma can be enjoyed up close.
• Moderate Growth: With a moderate growth rate, the ‘Aimee’ Gardenia reaches a manageable size, making it suitable for various garden sizes and container gardening without becoming unruly.
• Enhanced Garden Aesthetics: The combination of its lush foliage, pristine white flowers, and captivating scent significantly elevates the aesthetic and sensory experience of any garden or outdoor living area.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for ensuring your Aimee Gardenia live plant flourishes and produces its abundant, fragrant blooms. These plants prefer specific conditions to thrive, especially when grown as a fragrant gardenia care specimen.

Sunlight: The ‘Aimee’ Gardenia thrives in ample sunlight. It prefers a location that receives at least 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight per day, especially in cooler climates. In hotter regions, some afternoon shade can protect the foliage from scorching. For container-grown plants, rotate them occasionally to ensure even sun exposure. Watering: Originating from humid, subtropical regions, this Cape Jasmine requires consistently moist soil. Water weekly, or more frequently during hot, dry periods, to maintain its lush foliage and blooms. The soil should be consistently moist but never waterlogged. Ideally grown indoors in well-draining containers, ensuring proper drainage is crucial to prevent root rot. Check the soil moisture regularly by feeling the top inch of soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water.

Soil & Fertilization: Gardenias prefer acidic, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. A pH between 5.0 and 6.0 is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage and acidity. For container plants, use a high-quality potting mix formulated for acid-loving plants. Fertilize your Aimee Gardenia live plant every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring through summer) with a fertilizer specifically designed for acid-loving plants, such as azalea or camellia food. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Temperature & Hardiness: This gardenia is generally hardy in USDA zones 8-11. It prefers warm temperatures and high humidity. Protect plants from frost in colder zones by bringing container plants indoors or providing winter protection for in-ground specimens. Indoor plants thrive in temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C) during the day and slightly cooler at night. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.

Size & Details

The Aimee Gardenia live plant is a moderately growing evergreen shrub, typically reaching a mature height of 5 to 8 feet tall and spreading 3 to 6 feet wide. This makes it a versatile choice for various garden applications, from a standalone specimen to a fragrant hedge. It arrives as a young plant, approximately 9-12 inches tall, ready to be planted in your garden or a larger container. Please note that the plants are shipped without a pot, and they may not have buds or flowers upon arrival, as their blooming season occurs later. With proper care, you can expect these plants to establish well and begin producing their characteristic huge, fragrant blooms in their first or second growing season.

This gardenia plant for sale is known for its robust growth and early blooming habit, often being the first gardenia variety to show flowers in spring, continuing its display well into the summer months. Its moderate size makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or for adding a dramatic, fragrant element to patios and entryways. The plant’s overall health and vigor will contribute to its ability to produce its large, double white flowers, providing a stunning visual and aromatic experience for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Aimee Gardenia live plant typically grows to a moderate size, reaching 5 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide at maturity. Its eventual size depends on growing conditions and pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Cape Jasmine shrub is best grown outdoors in USDA Zones 8-11. In colder climates, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during winter, benefiting from bright light and high humidity.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This gardenia thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. In very hot climates, it appreciates some afternoon shade to protect its foliage.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While gardenias have specific care requirements, the ‘Aimee’ variety is considered robust. With consistent moisture, acidic soil, and adequate sunlight, it can be a relatively easy plant to maintain for those familiar with fragrant gardenia care.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Aimee Gardenia live plant will arrive as a healthy, young plant, approximately 9-12 inches tall. It is shipped without a pot and may not have flowers or buds upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: The ‘Aimee’ Gardenia is known for being an early bloomer, often producing flowers in its first or second growing season after planting. It continues to flower well into the growing season.
• Q: What is the best soil for a double white gardenia? A: A well-draining, acidic soil rich in organic matter is ideal for a double white gardenia. A soil pH between 5.0 and 6.0 is preferred for optimal growth and nutrient uptake.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This gardenia is hardy in USDA Zones 8-11. If you are in a colder zone, you will need to provide winter protection, such as mulching heavily or bringing containerized plants indoors.
• Q: How often should I water my gardenia? A: Gardenias prefer consistently moist soil. Water weekly, or more often during dry periods, ensuring the soil remains damp but not waterlogged.
• Q: Can I grow this gardenia plant for sale in a container? A: Yes, the ‘Aimee’ Gardenia is an excellent choice for container growing, especially in areas where it needs to be moved indoors during winter. Use a large pot with good drainage.