13 Popular Gardenia Varieties

Gardenia jasminoides 'Aimee'

This is one of the largest gardenias with double, four- to five-inch flowers. The variety is also referred to as ‘Aimee Yoshida’ or sold under the trademark name ‘First Love®’.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 5 to 8 feet height, 3 to 6 feet width
• Bloom Time: Late spring through early summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’

This moderately growing variety is a heavy bloomer with double three-inch flowers. It can be grown in containers.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 4 to 6 feet height, 3 to 4 feet width
• Bloom Time: Mid-spring through fall

Gardenia jasminoides 'Buttons'

This is a dwarf variety with a bushy growth habit, which makes it a perfect choice for containers. The two-inch semi-double flowers have a button in their center, hence the name.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 24 to 30 inches height, 24 to 30 inches width
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Crown Jewel’

This dwarf variety stands out by its cold-hardiness. It has a spreading habit which makes it an excellent container plant. The three-inch double flowers appear on old and new wood. This variety blooms heavily and repeatedly, which can be encouraged by a light pruning after each bloom.

• USDA Growing Zone: 6 to 11
• Height: 2 to 3 feet height, 3 to 5 feet width
• Bloom Time: Spring through fall

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Fortuniana’

This is one of the larger varieties but also one of the most profuse bloomers. Its double four-inch flowers are often compared to camellia flowers.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 6 to 8 feet height, 6 to 8 feet width
• Bloom Time: Mid-spring through mid-summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frostproof’

True to its name, this variety is more tolerant of late spring frost than others. It has an upright growth habit and grows slowly, which makes it suitable for container planting. The double, two- to three-inch flowers start to appear in early summer. It may bloom sporadically during the rest of the summer.

• USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 11
• Height: 5 feet height, 4 feet width
• Bloom Time: Summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Jubilation’

• This is another one of the hardier gardenia varieties. It has a compact growth habit with double flowers starting in the late spring and re-blooming during the summer and into fall.
• USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 11
• Height: 3 to 4 feet height, 3 feet width
• Bloom Time: Late spring through fall

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Kleim’s Hardy’

This especially cold-hardy gardenia is also more tolerant of direct sunlight than other varieties. It has a mounded, semi-dwarf growth habit so it’s a great container plant. The single flowers appear in the late spring and with good care and a bit of luck, you might see another bloom in the fall.

• USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 11
• Height: 2 to 3 feet height, 2 to 3 feet width
• Bloom Time: Late spring to summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Pinwheel’

The special feature of this prolific bloomer are its pinwheel-shaped flowers. The shrub grows moderately quickly yet it is on the larger side so it is best planted in the ground near a patio where you can fully enjoy the fragrant flowers. It is one of the hardier gardenia varieties.

• USDA Growing Zone: 6 to 11
• Height: 4 to 8 feet height, 3 to 6 feet width
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Mystery’

Its upright growth habit makes this variety a particularly good choice for container growing. The flowers are double and large.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 5 feet tall, 3 feet width
• Bloom Time: Late spring through early summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’

This mini gardenia has a low-growing, creeping growth habit. In the right climate, it can be planted in the ground for a wonderful fragrant groundcover with double flowers.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 6 to 12 inches height, 24 to 36 inches spread
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Veitchii’

One of the oldest gardenia cultivars with a low, dense growth habit so it’s a good choice for containers. Its double flowers cover the plant during a long bloom period.

• USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
• Height: 4 feet height, 3 feet width
• Bloom Time: Spring through summer

Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis)

This rare tropical gardenia species is the national flower of Tahiti, that’s why it is also called the Tahitian tiare flower. The flowers can be pinwheel- or star-shaped, and there is also a cultivar named ‘Double’.

• USDA Growing Zone: 10 to 11
• Height: 4 to 6 feet height, 4 to 6 feet width
• Bloom Time: Spring through fall