Gardenias are beloved for their intoxicatingly sweet scent and beautiful waxy white flowers. While they are traditionally grown outdoors in warm climates gardenia plants can also be grown indoors with proper care. If you’d like to enjoy these fragrant flowering shrubs indoors, here’s where to find the best indoor gardenia plants for sale.
Choosing the Right Gardenia Variety for Indoors
Not all gardenia varieties are well-suited to growing indoors. When shopping for an indoor gardenia, look for dwarf compact varieties that grow well in containers. Some top picks include
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Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia – This miniature variety grows just 1-2 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for containers. The lush green leaves contrast beautifully with the large, fragrant white blooms. It can bloom year-round indoors.
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Radicans Gardenia – Also known as dwarf radicans gardenia, this variety only reaches 2 feet tall but spreads to 3-5 feet wide. The abundantly produced 1 inch flowers emit a lovely, strong fragrance.
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Frost Proof Gardenia – As the name suggests, this variety is cold hardy and can withstand temperatures down to 10°F once established. It’s a good choice if you plan to move your gardenia outdoors for the summer.
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August Beauty Gardenia – Though it can reach 6 feet tall outside, August beauty gardenias stay more compact when grown in containers. The 3 inch flowers bloom spring through summer and fill the air with their magnificent scent.
Where to Buy Indoor Gardenia Plants
You can find indoor gardenia plants for sale at the following national retailers:
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Home Depot – Home Depot stocks frost proof, August beauty, and radicans gardenia varieties in stores and online. Prices range from $20-70.
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Lowe’s – Lowe’s carries Kleim’s hardy, August beauty, and other gardenia varieties in select stores and on their website. Prices are typically $40-60.
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BrighterBlooms – This online plant nursery has the widest selection of gardenias for indoor growing. Varieties include Frost Proof, August Beauty, Radicans, and Kleim’s Hardy, with prices from $20-80.
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The Tree Center – The Tree Center offers gardenia plants for shipment to anywhere in the US. They stock frost proof, Kleim’s hardy, ScentAmazing, and other varieties priced $40-110.
You can also check with local, independent nurseries to see if they carry gardenias suitable for indoor growing. These small businesses often have a great selection of plants not found at big box stores.
How to Care for Indoor Gardenia Plants
To keep your indoor gardenia healthy and blooming beautifully, provide it with the following care:
Light – Gardenias need at least 6 hours of bright, indirect light per day. South or west facing windows are ideal. Rotate the plant periodically to prevent lopsided growth.
Temperature – Daytime temps of 65-75°F and nighttime temps above 60°F are best. Keep away from drafty areas.
Water – Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry. Use room temperature water and avoid getting water on the leaves and flowers.
Humidity – Gardenias prefer 40-70% humidity. Increase humidity by misting the plant daily or placing on a pebble tray.
Soil – Use an acidic potting mix made for azaleas, gardenias, and camellias. Maintain a pH between 5.0-6.5.
Fertilizer – Feed monthly during the growing season with an acidic fertilizer formulated specifically for gardenias.
Pruning – Prune off spent flowers and shape the plant as desired after flowering. Avoid major pruning that could reduce blooming.
With the right growing conditions and care, indoor gardenia plants will reward you with their spectacular blooms and heady fragrance. It’s worth seeking out gardenia varieties suitable for indoor cultivation so you can enjoy these beautiful shrubs all year long.
Gardenia Care Indoors // How to care for the gardenia inside with Northlawn Flower Farms
FAQ
Can you keep a gardenia plant indoors?
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YouTube · Northlawn Flower Farm and Gardenshttps://www.youtube.comGardenia Care Indoors // How to care for the gardenia inside … – YouTubeFeb 10, 2020 — and at night a temperature between 60 and 62° F now that is specific but in order for buds to form you do want to maintain the home at this temperat…
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Gardening Know Howhttps://www.gardeningknowhow.comTips For Growing Gardenias Indoors – Gardening Know HowJun 20, 2021 — Keep your plant free of drafts and never place a gardenia where it will receive the direct force of hot air from a furnace.
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Gardening Simplified On Airhttps://gardeningsimplifiedonair.comEpisode 73 – Happiness with Houseplants (even gardenias!)Jan 27, 2024 — And the fact remains that while it’s possible to keep gardenias indoors for a matter of weeks, they are ultimately outdoor plants, and nothing is go…
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San Diego Union-Tribunehttps://www.sandiegouniontribune.comGrowing gardenias indoors or outdoors – San Diego Union-TribuneMar 9, 2013 — Gardenias can be grown either as a house plant or planted outdoors. Since you have both options, I highly recommend outdoors. They require high light…
Do gardenias do well as potted plants?
These evergreen shrubs are celebrated for their lush, glossy foliage and intensely fragrant, waxy white flowers, making them a beloved choice for gardens, landscapes, and potted indoor plants.
What do Epsom salts do for gardenias?
How Much Epsom Salts For Gardenias? Epsom Salts contains Magnesium sulphate which stops the yellowing on Gardenia leaves due to a magnesium deficiency.
Which Gardenia is best?
There are several types of gardenias available, each with its unique features. The Frost Proof Gardenia is popular due to its frost resistance, which helps protect its blooms. The Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is a miniature variety that can be grown and maintained indoors as a potted plant, filling your home with a citrusy scent. The Dwarf Radicans Gardenia is a perfect border plant, growing about two feet tall.
Which Gardenia plants are best for indoor growth?
The Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is a miniature variety that can be grown and maintained indoors as a potted plant. It can literally fill your home with a citrusy scent. The Dwarf Radicans Gardenia gets about two feet tall and is low maintenance and drought resistant, making it suitable for indoor cultivation. The August Beauty Gardenia features huge, 3″ blooms that last up to 3 months.
Can a gardenia be grown as a potted plant?
The gardenia is a shrub, but some varieties can be kept as potted plants. Our selection includes the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia, which is a miniature variety that can be grown and maintained indoors as a potted plant. Other varieties, like the Frost Proof Gardenia, can also be trained to be small trees.
Where can I buy Gardenia bushes online?
Rest assured, when you buy Gardenia bushes online from Wilson Bros Gardens we safely ship the highest quality container-grown specimens that are ready upon arrival to plant and thrive for years to come in your gardens – Guaranteed! Wilson Bros Gardens brings you awesome every day!
Are there different types of gardenias?
At BrighterBlooms.com, we stock a number of different types of gardenias in 1, 2 and 3 gallon sizes for planting and also for gift purposes. The gardenia is a shrub, but it can be trained to be a small tree or other varieties can be kept as potted plants. Our selection includes the Frost Proof Gardenia, which is popular for its ability to resist late frosts, which can damage blooms.
How much sun do gardenias require?
Gardenias require full sun for several hours a day; at least six hours. If you live in an area of intense sunlight, we recommend light shade for your gardenias, whether they are outdoor plants or potted plants brought indoors.