Carolina Garden: Daisy Gardenia

Ten years ago I planted several 1 gallon gardenias. Being that gardenias are some of my favorite flowers, I decided to plant several varieties. While my August Beauty has been spectacular, the plant that attracts the most comments is my Daisy Gardenia. Unlike the double-flowered blossoms of the August Beauty, the Daisy Gardenia is a simple 6 petal bloom. It‘s the simplicity of the blossom that seems to be the attraction. Though this variety lacks the showy petals of the more common gardenias, there is no lacking when it comes to the sweet fragrance. Like all gardenias, the Daisy Gardenia thrives in acidic soil. The prolific blossoms are self cleaning, but the plant does attract white flies. The Daisy Gardenia is a top pick for a Carolina Garden.