by Merilyn Cranford, Somervell County Master Gardener
Early May in the South is a time when Gulf winds sweep inland, breathing sensuality into the evening. In gardens, the silvered moon casts light on alabaster blossoms and enthralls the nose before they can be spotted in the darkness. These belong to the most wanton of scented garden shrubs, the cape jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides).
The superb flowers have a vague pinwheel form that seems to place them with the periwinkles, but glossy green leaves held in whorls of three mark these emblems of desire as cousins of coffee instead. Half-hardy natives of China, the lustrous leafed gardenias have held favored positions in gardens since they were introduced. Their overpowering scent, like an enriched compote of jasmine and tuberose, has sunk into the memory of gardening generations.
Several of the garden forms of Gardenia can only be counted hardy near the Gulf, while others perform north to Virginia. However, standard gardenia such as “Mystery”, “Candle Light”, and “First Love” provide bushy plants with lustrous foliage and double flowers in early summer. Dwarf gardenias like the “Radicans” make attractive edging plants with a scattering of semi-double blooms over the summer. Unlike most acid lovers, cape jasmines enjoy direct sun, rich soil and plenty of summer moisture.
Single forms usually called “star gardenias” are less popular than the opulent double variety, but are no less fragrant or deserving of garden space. Along the Gulf Coast the Gardenia thunbergia makes a large angularly branched shrub. This fragrant African species is not especially cold hardy, but it seems to endure adverse soil conditions. Where heavy clays or calcareous soils are common in Texas, this species provides conditions for grafting standard gardenias.
May an addition of Cape Jasmines to your garden bring a measure of Happy Gardening to your life.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Moonlit Garden by Scot Ogden