Creeping Gardenia produces an abundance of sweetly fragrant, double, pure white flowers during Spring and into Summer. Unlike it's upright cousins, the growth habit is prostrate and speading, making it a good selection for a bed edger or groundcover in landscape beds, or to trail over walls. Reaches a height of 2 to 3' and can spread 4 to 6'. Attractive, lustrous, dark green leaves are evergreen. Easy to grow in most any well-drained soils. May need some protection when temperatures drop below 15 degrees F.

Height: 2' to 3' Landscape Usages: Landscape Beds, Foundation, Containers / Planters, Shrub Border, Outdoor Living Areas, Entryway, Garden Pond, Border / Edger, Groundcover, Mass Planting Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Mostly Sun, Partial Shade, Morning Sun Resistant To: Deer Resistant, Heat Type: Shrub, Groundcover, Evergreen Theme Gardens: Cottage, Japanese, Perennial

Spread: 4' to 6' Attracts: Visual Attention Characteristics: Flower, Fragrance, Foliage Fragrances: Fragrant Flowers Growth Rate: Moderate Colors: White Foliage Color: Green Seasons of Bloom: Spring Blooms, Early Summer Blooms Soil Needs: Ammended Clay, Average, Well-Drained Water Needs: Average USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10

Creeping Gardenia (Dwarf) Feeding Instructions

Fertilize Summer-flowering shrubs in Spring (after new growth has begun to emerge), and again, if needed, in late Summer to early Fall with a well-balanced tree and shrub food or an organic plant food. When in dought as to how much fertilizer to apply, follow instructions on the product label.

Creeping Gardenia (Dwarf) Pruning Instructions

This evergreen summer-flowering shrub requires no pruning. However, during any time of year it is okay to remove stray or broken branches, or shear to maintain a neater appearance or encourage another flush of blooms. Hard pruning, to reduce the size of the shrub, should be performed in late Winter; before new foliage has emerged. Hand-pruning, with sharp hand pruners, is recommended. Pruning with electric or gas-powered hedge trimmers can cause unsightly scarring of leaves.

Creeping Gardenia (Dwarf) Pest Instructions

Several insects and diseases might show up on your gardenia. When a black "sooty mold" coats gardenia leaves in Summer or Fall, it is usually due to an infestation of insects such as aphids, mealybugs or whiteflies. These insects leave behind a trail of sticky residue on the leaves. The smut-like, sticky substance does not injure foliage, but can prevent sunlight from reaching the leaf, thereby reducing photosynthesis. In the event your gardenia becomes infested, spray plants 3 times at 10 day intervals with Malathion, or a product containing Neem oil. Make sure to spray the undersides of the leaves. Root rot can be a problem in poorly drained soils.