Jubilation Gardenia

Light Needs

Part Shade to Full Sun

(3+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 10

Jubilation Gardenia delivers the beloved gardenia fragrance in a compact shrub that fits neatly into today’s smaller landscapes. Double white flowers first appear in spring, then rebloom here and there through summer into fall. The glossy, dark emerald-green foliage stays evergreen, giving containers, hedges, and foundation beds a finished look between bloom cycles. Our landscape designer likes planting it near porches and patios, where the perfume can drift into outdoor seating areas.

This Southern Living selection improves on older gardenias with a dense, rounded habit that usually needs little shaping. Gardenia jasminoides 'Leeone' grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, so it works as a specimen, low fragrant hedge, slope planting, border shrub, or container feature. It is hardy in Zones 7-10 and tolerates Southern heat and humidity, with cold protection helpful when temperatures approach 0°F. The flowers are excellent for cutting, and the plant has demonstrated deer resistance, drought tolerance once established, and slight salt tolerance.

Jubilation Gardenia Care

Grow Jubilation Gardenia in full sun to part shade, with 4 to 6 hours of morning to midday sun for strong bud development. Afternoon shade is helpful in hot climates, especially near pavement, brick, or reflective walls. Plant in rich, moist, well-drained acidic soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5.

Water when the upper 2 inches of soil feel dry, soaking deeply so moisture reaches the full root zone. Keep the soil evenly moist during bud set and bloom, since swings between dry and wet soil can cause bud drop. Feed when new growth begins in spring with a slow-release fertilizer for acid-loving plants, then feed again in midsummer if the plant is actively growing. Use pine bark or pine straw mulch to protect the shallow roots and help keep soil moisture steady.

Prune Jubilation Gardenia after the main spring bloom if a few stems need shaping. Remove faded flowers just below a leaf node to keep the shrub clean and encourage later bloom. For container plants in Zone 7, move pots to a sheltered spot during sharp cold snaps and water occasionally through winter when the soil is dry and unfrozen.

Jubilation Gardenia Spacing

Space Jubilation Gardenia 3 feet apart for a fragrant hedge, or 5 to 6 feet apart when planting individual shrubs in mixed borders. Choose a container at least 18 inches wide with drainage holes and an acidic potting mix made for azaleas, camellias, or rhododendrons. Repot every 2 to 3 years as the root ball fills the pot, and check containers often in summer because they dry faster than garden soil.

Jubilation Gardenia makes a good partner for cleyera, distylium, hydrangeas, and blueberry bushes in acidic beds with good drainage and protected sun. Coral bells and liriope can fill the front of the planting with foliage texture around the gardenia’s glossy leaves. In containers, use bacopa, fuchsia, or lobelia around the rim for seasonal color that appreciates regular watering and bright filtered light.

Jubilation Gardenia Information

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