Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)

How much light does a Cape Jasmine need?

Outdoors, this shrub does best in part shade, and full sun is also listed. Full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. For the best flower production, full sun, partial shade or shifting shade all work. Indoors, it prefers bright, indirect light or partial shade.

• Light: Part shade and full sun (part shade preferred)^1,2

How often to water a Cape Jasmine

The water need for Cape jasmine is rated medium, with both the lowest and highest listed level at medium. The shrub is described as moderately drought-tolerant. Its soil rating includes occasionally dry and occasionally wet conditions. The same soil rating also includes moist and well drained conditions.

• Water: Medium¹

Best soil for a Cape Jasmine

Drainage for this shrub is listed as well drained, moist, occasionally dry and occasionally wet. Good drainage is noted, and gardenias do best in well-drained soil amended with organic matter. An acidic soil pH between 5.0 and 6.5 is required for this shrub, or the foliage will yellow. Potted plants should be repotted every two to three years, using an acidic potting soil.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist, occasionally dry and occasionally wet^1,2
• Soil pH: pH 5–6.5²

Hardiness and temperature

The listed hardiness range for this shrub runs from zone 7b to zone 11b. The plant is not cold hardy below about 28 °F (-2 °C). Cape jasmine is rated for high humidity. A pot can sit on a pebble tray filled with water to raise the humidity. Plants that need constant high humidity, such as gardenias, are best kept in kitchens or bathrooms.

• Hardiness: Zones 7b–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 28.4 °F (-2 °C)²

Fertilizing a Cape Jasmine

Cape jasmine gets a light fertilizer feeding, once a year. Fertilize it lightly in the spring, once frost has passed. That one light feeding is the whole yearly schedule listed for this shrub. Wait until the last frost has passed before you fertilize.

• Fertilizer: Light, once a year (Mar–May)³

Pruning a Cape Jasmine

Cut after the shrub has finished flowering in summer. The pruning types listed are deadheading and light shaping. Straggly branches and faded flowers are what you remove. Maintenance for this shrub is rated high overall. The growth rate is medium.

• Pruning: Deadheading and Light shaping (Jun–Aug)³

How to plant a Cape Jasmine

Choose a spot in zones 7b to 11b, where the shrub is listed as hardy. Allow for a mature height of 3–8 ft (0.91–2.44 m), depending on the cultivar. Leave room for a width of 4–8 ft (1.22–2.44 m). The site should offer part shade or full sun, with well-drained soil that has a pH of 5 to 6.5. The plant is an evergreen shrub with a medium growth rate.

• Hardiness: Zones 7b–11b¹

Winter care

Frost is the main limit, since gardenias are not cold hardy below about 28 °F (-2 °C). Zone 7b is the coldest zone in the listed range, and zone 11b is the warmest. It is a broadleaf evergreen. A potted plant kept indoors prefers bright, indirect light and high humidity. The feeding season in the record is spring only.

• Hardiness: Zones 7b–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 28.4 °F (-2 °C)²

How to propagate a Cape Jasmine

Cape jasmine can be propagated three ways: stem cuttings, layering and grafting. Air layering is named as a form of layering. Grafting is also on the list, alongside cuttings and layering. Cuttings, air layers and grafting are each named as a way to propagate gardenia. Each of the three methods is on the list as a separate option.

• Propagation: Stem cuttings, layering and grafting^2,1

Common problems

Pests recorded on Cape jasmine include aphids, scales, black scale, cottony cushion scale, mealybugs, whiteflies and spider mites. Nematodes, black vine weevil, fuller rose beetle and black twig borer are also listed. The omnivorous leafroller and the yellowstriped armyworm complete the pest list. Diseases recorded are armillaria root rot, phytophthora root rot, sooty mold and cotton root rot. Tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus are also listed.

• Common pests: aphids, scales, black scale, cottony cushion scale, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies, nematodes, black vine weevil, fuller rose beetle, black twig borer, omnivorous leafroller and yellowstriped armyworm^4,5
• Common diseases: armillaria root rot, phytophthora root rot, sooty mold, cotton root rot, tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus^4,5

Questions and answers

Is Cape jasmine toxic to cats and dogs?

The ASPCA lists Cape jasmine as toxic to cats. It also lists the plant as toxic to dogs. Both positions are recorded separately, and both read toxic.

How much sun does Cape jasmine need?

Part shade is preferred, and full sun is also listed. Full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Indoors, it prefers bright, indirect light.

What soil pH does Cape jasmine need?

An acidic soil pH between 5.0 and 6.5 is required, or the foliage will yellow. Gardenias do best in well-drained soil amended with organic matter.