Southern grace in the garden

With its fragrant, fleeting cream-colored buds and rich green foliage, the romance of the gardenia isn’t lost on horticulturist Mike Sikes.

“To me, the gardenia is a sort of Southern aristocrat. Its fragrance expresses the true grace of the South,” said Sikes, of McCorkle Nurseries.

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Handout

The ‘Heaven Scent’ gardenia, a new compact introduction in the Gardener’s Confidence Collection by wholesale grower McCorkle Nurseries, grows well in containers and, unlike many gardenias, can tolerate full sun.

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Walter Reeves / AJC Special

Gardenias are known for their fragrant flowers but can suffer winter damage in the upper reaches of Georgia.

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Sikes said the gardenia is a must-have for the Southern garden, alongside hydrangeas, magnolias and camellias. Now that it’s bred in varying sizes, the evergreen shrub can be enjoyed in the garden or as a container and makes for a great cut flower.

Landscaper Jen Yavorsky of Shady Grove and Gardens in Atlanta says most of her clients associate the scent with summer days and special occasions.

But gardener Betty Knight of Atlanta says the gardenia smell turns her stomach, reminding her of the corsage she wore at a high school dance with an ill-mannered boy.

“I can’t smell one that I don’t think of that creep,” Knight recalls of her blind date. (Now she grows them only for their looks, far away enough not to smell them.)

Yavorsky, however, says the gardenia is her favorite.

“They’re so low maintenance and not really affected by disease,” she said. The trick to keeping their buds beautiful?

“Try not to handle them too much,” Sikes advises, as the oils from hands quickly turn the delicate cream petals to yellow.

Sikes shares these tips for gardenia grandeur:

- Choose the right spot. Gardenias can handle morning sun but thrive in part shade. Yavorsky says well-established gardenias acclimate to full sun.

- Soil. Gardenias prefer an acidic soil amended with lots of organic matter, such as soil conditioner or compost.

- Perched planting. Plant the shrub with its root ball about a half-inch higher than surrounding soil. Cover with mulch.

- Water right. Gardenias need good drainage, but keep soil moderately moist. After planting, follow a regular watering schedule until late fall to establish a deep root system.

- Pruning. Simply pluck the yellowed and withered buds to keep it looking fresh.

Gardenias to try: ‘Heaven Scent,’ a compact variety at 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide; ‘August Beauty’ or ‘Mystery’ for upright shrubs reaching 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide.