gardenia varieties

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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If you're searching for gardenia varieties to give your New Zealand garden a touch of classic elegance, you're in for a treat. These timeless evergreen shrubs are celebrated for their glossy foliage, exquisite blooms, and irresistible fragrance. Whether you're after compact specimens for pots or impressive, bushy hedges, gardenia varieties offer something for every landscape. With their creamy-white flowers and rich, sweet scent, gardenias are perfect for front entrances, patios, and sheltered spots where their perfume can be most appreciated.

Gardenia augusta 'True Love' white flower with mid-green foliage.

Gardenia True Love

Gardenia 'True Love' is a compact, evergreen shrub reaching around 60–90 cm tall and wide, perfect for adding fragrance and lush foliage to NZ gardens. It produces richly scented, creamy-white flowers from late spring through summer, set against glossy dark green leaves. Thriving in full sun to part shade with well-drained, slightly acidic soil, it’s ideal for borders, patio pots, or as a low hedge. ‘True Love’ offers timeless beauty, perfume, and structure in a neat, easy-care form.

Buy Gardenia True Love

From $26.93

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.00 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Cottage, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock, Tropical, White

Gardenia Frostproof

Gardenia 'Frostproof' is a hardy, evergreen shrub renowned for its fragrant white flowers and glossy, dark green foliage. Reaching around 90–120 cm tall and wide, it’s ideal for NZ gardeners in cooler regions, as it tolerates light frosts better than most gardenia varieties. Blooming from late spring through summer, it brings lasting scent and elegance to borders, pots, or hedges.

Buy Gardenia Frostproof

From $26.93

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.00 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Cottage, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock, Tropical, White

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Azalea and Gardenia, or related Categories - Acid Loving Plants, Groundcover Plants Evergreen Azaleas and Evergreen Shrubs.

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Popular Gardenia Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

Selecting the right gardenia variety makes all the difference to enjoying glorious blooms and lush foliage year after year. Here are some standout options for Kiwi gardeners:

Gardenia Veitchii

Gardenia Veitchii is a classic choice, revered for its prolific flowering and compact growth habit. Veitchii produces masses of fragrant, double white blooms from late spring through summer. Its tidy size makes it ideal for pots, borders, or mass planting. If you want a reliable performer in cooler regions and one that holds its leaves well through winter, Gardenia Veitchii is a top contender.

Azalea Gardenia Supreme

If you love hybrid vigor, Azalea Gardenia Supreme is a wonderful option. This lush shrub is not only renowned for its hardiness but also for an abundance of bright white flowers that exude a powerful gardenia scent. Its robust growth and tolerance to a broader range of conditions make Gardenia Supreme a favourite among gardeners who appreciate low maintenance beauty.

Gardenia Fragrant Star

For those seeking a bush with intense perfume, the Gardenia Fragrant Star is a must-have. This variety is noted for its star-shaped blooms and strong fragrance, perfect for planting near walkways or outdoor seating areas. Fragrant Star's medium size and dark green foliage make it a striking feature in any garden, and it thrives in sheltered, partly shaded spots.

Gardenia Magnifica

If bold blooms are your preference, Gardenia Magnifica stands out with large, elegant flowers and deep, glossy leaves. Magnifica makes a wonderful statement in mixed borders or as a standalone feature plant. Its impressive floral display is particularly attractive during early summer, and it enjoys a moist, well-drained site with protection from harsh frosts.

Gardenia Frostproof

For gardeners in cooler climates, Gardenia Frostproof has been specially bred to endure lower temperatures while still offering gorgeous, highly fragrant blooms. This variety is a great choice for exposed sites or gardens where winter chills are a concern, ensuring reliable performance and flower power year after year.

Choosing Gardenia Varieties for Your Landscape

With so many gardenia varieties available, it's easy to find one that suits your garden style and local conditions. From compact Veitchii for pots to bold Magnifica for hedges, each offers lush foliage and enchanting fragrance. Consider factors like sunlight, soil type, and exposure to frost, and plant your gardenia where its scent and beauty can truly shine.

Ready to explore more? Discover our full range of gardenia varieties to transform your garden into a fragrant paradise.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Start your garden with Lomandra White Sands and Azara microphylla, and add depth with lesser-known gems like Acer palmatum 'Shirazz', Pittosporum Silver Pillar, and Ajuga reptans variegata.

–The Plant Company

gardenia varieties

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