Gardenias, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Gardenias do well in Southwest Florida when they get the right spot: morning sun, afternoon shade and acidic, evenly moist soil. The reward is glossy evergreen foliage and intensely fragrant white blooms from late spring into summer. They struggle in dry beds, in salt spray and in our alkaline sand without iron, so spot choice matters. We carry a tree form, a standard bush and a dwarf.
- Light:
- Morning sun with afternoon shade
- Water:
- Moderate to high; keep evenly moist, never soggy
- Salt:
- Low; keep out of salt spray
Gardenia sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gardenia Miami Supreme Tree | 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon | Miami Supreme is a large-flowered gardenia, and this one is grown in tree form in 7 and 15 gallon sizes for flanking an entry or anchoring a patio. |
| Gardenia Bush | 7 Gallon | The standard gardenia shrub in a 7 gallon size, full and rounded, for foundation beds and fragrant hedges. |
| Gardenia Dwarf | 3 Gallon | A low, compact gardenia in a 3 gallon size for borders, pots and the front of beds. |
Gardenia in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 4 to 8 ft tall and about as wide; the dwarf stays well under 3 ft
- Light
- Morning sun with afternoon shade
- Water
- Moderate to high; keep evenly moist, never soggy
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep out of salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Handles most SW Florida winters; a hard freeze can burn leaves and flower buds
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 4 to 5 ft on center for a row of shrubs; 2 to 3 ft for the dwarf
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Gardenia jasminoides
Where Gardenia works in a SW Florida yard
Plant gardenias where you will walk past them: beside the front door, along a patio or under a bedroom window, so the scent drifts in. Beds on the east side of the house get morning sun and afternoon shade, which suits them best. The tree form makes a lollipop accent to flank an entry, the bush fits foundation beds, and the dwarf edges a walkway.
Ixora, crepe jasmine and cast iron plant make good companions. Keep them out of exposed, salty or hot western spots.
- Fragrance by doors and patios
- East-side foundation planting
- Tree-form entry accent
- Low border with the dwarf
How our crew plants it
Pick the spot first, because gardenias resent being moved. Dig the hole twice as wide as the pot and no deeper, and set the root ball a little high so the crown sits 1 to 2 inches above grade. Backfill with native soil, mulch 2 to 3 inches deep with pine bark or pine straw and keep it off the stems.
The crew sets it at the right depth and waters it in before cleaning up. Under Lee and Collier rules you can water new plantings extra for a while, then drop to your assigned two days.
Care after planting
- Feed with an acid-forming fertilizer made for gardenias and azaleas in spring and early fall, outside the June 1 to September 30 ban, and use chelated iron when new leaves go pale.
- Water evenly, because swings between dry and soggy cause bud drop.
- Prune lightly right after the main flush of bloom, since late pruning removes next year's flower buds.
- Refresh the pine bark or pine straw mulch each spring to keep roots cool and the soil slightly acidic.
- Treat whiteflies and scale early with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, and the sooty mold clears up once the insects are gone.
What to watch for
- In alkaline soil gardenias turn yellow with green veins from iron shortage, which is a common problem in SW Florida.
- Root-knot nematodes are among the most serious gardenia pests in Florida, and whiteflies and scale add sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.
- The ASPCA lists gardenia as mildly toxic to dogs, cats and horses if eaten, usually with vomiting or diarrhea.
Gardenia questions we hear
Do gardenias grow well in Cape Coral and Fort Myers?+
Yes, with the right spot. They want morning sun, afternoon shade, acidic soil and steady moisture. Our sandy, often alkaline soil causes yellow leaves unless you feed with iron and mulch with pine bark. Put them where you can water them, away from salt spray and hot western walls.
Why are my gardenia leaves turning yellow?+
Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean iron shortage in alkaline soil, a common gardenia problem here. A chelated iron product and a micronutrient fertilizer help. If the whole leaf yellows, check for overwatering, nematodes or whiteflies before adding more fertilizer.
Why does my gardenia drop its buds before they open?+
Bud drop usually comes from uneven watering, heat swings or too much shade. Keep the soil evenly moist, mulch well and avoid moving or heavily pruning the plant when it sets buds. Whiteflies, thrips and mites can also cause it, so check the undersides of the leaves.
Are gardenias poisonous to dogs and cats?+
Mildly. The ASPCA lists gardenia as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with vomiting, diarrhea and hives as the usual signs. It is not in the same league as oleander or sago palm, but keep chewers away from it and call a vet if a pet eats a lot.
When do gardenias bloom in Southwest Florida?+
The main flush runs from late spring into early summer, with scattered blooms afterward. Warm weather brings the fragrance on strong. Steady water, spring feeding and light pruning right after bloom give you more flowers next year, while hard pruning in late summer or fall cuts them back.
How much does it cost to have a gardenia delivered and planted?+
Price depends on the form, pot size and how many plants. Tell us whether you want the tree, bush or dwarf and about how many, and we text a planted price, usually within the hour during the day. Half down holds the plants and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Gardenia
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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