‘Summer Snow’ Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Summer Snow‘ BAB1183

Other Names: Summer Snow Cold Hardy Gardenia

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-10 Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 4-5′

Width at Maturity: 4-5′

Spacing: 3.5 to 4′ feet apart for solid hedge or groupings; 8’+ apart for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Dense Rounded Mound

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: 2-3″

Flowering Period: Summer

Flower Type: Double

Fragrant Flowers: Yes – extremely fragrant!

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun, Avoid direct afternoon sunlight

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.0 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (below 0°F), Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity, Insect, Heavy Shade

Description

Perhaps the most cold hardy Gardenia introduced to date, ‘Summer Snow’ has shown excellent cold tolerance to below 0°F, which is a much greater threshold than any other variety we know of, and we’ve tried them all! Summer Snow produces abundant large and waxy, intoxicatingly fragrant, white double flowers that fill the garden with heavenly aroma from May through early summer. The flowers stand out beautifully against the dark green glossy leaves on a fast-growing and dense mounding shrub to 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for a low to mid-size hedge or in home foundation plantings and around patios, decks, porches and other outdoor living spaces. This one will grow in part to even full shade and still bloom great. As with other gardenias, do avoid the midafternoon direct sun. Has demonstrated high resistance to drought, disease and insects, and you might be happy to know that the deer turn their nose up to it!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Its mounding form to only 4 to 5 feet tall and equally as wide make the Summer Snow Gardenia ideal for use as a specimen in smaller garden spaces or large pots, planters, and other containers. In larger landscape spaces it is ideal for use in groupings or as a low maintenance hedge. An excellent selection for home foundation plantings and around patios, decks, porches and other outdoor living spaces where the beautiful and fragrant flowers and lustrous foliage can be enjoyed from close up. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, cottage gardens, white theme gardens, tropical-look gardens, and part to fully shaded woodland gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 3.5 to 4 feet apart for solid hedge or mass plantings; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Gardenia are very easy to grow in moist but well-drained acidic soils of average fertility and part sun. Morning and evening sun are fine but filtered sun or shade are preferred during the afternoon. As with so many other ornamental plants, constantly soggy or wet soils can cause root rot or other plant diseases.

Soil pH is important!

To flower their best and maintain deep green foliage color, all Gardenia require an acid to moderately acid soil ranging from 4.5 to 6.0 on the pH scale. If your soil is alkaline foliage will turn pale-green to yellow and flowering will be diminished.

Soil pH is a measurement of the alkalinity or acidity of soil and is measured on a scale of 1-14, with 7 as the neutral mark. Any measurement below 7 indicates acid soil conditions, and anything above 7 indicates alkaline. If you’re unsure about the pH of your soil and whether or not it’s suitable for growing Gardenia it’s a good idea to test the soil pH in the planting area. You can quickly test soil pH with an inexpensive soil pH tester probe. To raise the pH (make more alkaline) you can add pelletized limestone to the soil. To lower the pH (make more acid) you can apply Soil Sulfur, Aluminum Sulfate, or Chelated Iron. Adding organic compost to the soil or using compost as mulch can also help to increase acidity and maintain acid soil conditions.

Learn More: What is Soil pH & How To Test & Adjust It

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Gardenia plants.

How To Plant & Care For Gardenias

Plant Long & Prosper!

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The bushes came in excellent condition, For the size of these bushes, which was large, they were packaged and maintained perfectly in shipment, which is impressive. They’ve been growing for about a month and they are going strong.————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Since the plant was ordered in December, it is sitting in a bathtub on in a sunny bathroom waiting for spring before planting. The 3 gallon plant was/is beautiful, big and healthy. Since we were having below 0 weather here we decided to not plant till spring.——————————————————————-Keep us posted. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This gardenia arrived about 3 feet tall and looking beautiful! (I think I ordered the 3 gallon.) The leaves were so perfect and shiny that they almost looked artificial. Super healthy and has done very well over the last few weeks since planting. I am very happy with this selection as an attractive evergreen that should do well in the north. Look forward to seeing how it survives the winter and blooms in the new year!——————————————————-Thanks so much for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG