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Radicans Gardenia Shrub

$5995 $9995
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Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

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Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Radicans Gardenia Shrub

Radicans Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans') Planting Guide

The Radicans Gardenia is a low-growing, spreading variety of gardenia, prized for its small, fragrant white flowers and glossy evergreen leaves. It’s an excellent choice for ground cover, borders, or containers, and does well in warmer climates. Here’s how to plant and care for your Radicans Gardenia for optimal success:

Planting Instructions:

  1. Location & Timing: Radicans Gardenia thrives in USDA zones 7-11 and prefers a location with partial shade to full sun (ideally morning sun and afternoon shade). In cooler zones, ensure it gets full sun to promote better blooming. Plant in spring or early fall when the soil is warm and the weather is mild.
  2. Soil Preparation: Gardenias prefer rich, well-draining soil with an acidic pH between 5.0-6.0. If your soil is alkaline, amend it with organic compost, peat moss, or sulfur to lower the pH. Make sure the area has good drainage, as gardenias are sensitive to waterlogged soils.
  3. Digging & Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Place the gardenia in the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is slightly above ground level to prevent water pooling around the base. Backfill with soil and tamp down gently to eliminate air pockets.
  4. Spacing: Space Radicans Gardenia plants about 2-3 feet apart to allow them to spread and grow. They can grow up to 2 feet tall and spread 2-4 feet wide.
  5. Watering & Mulching: Water the plant thoroughly after planting to help settle the soil. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base, leaving space around the trunk to prevent rot. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Care Instructions (Establishment Period):

  1. Watering: Gardenias require consistent moisture during the establishment period. Water deeply 1-2 times a week, especially during dry periods, ensuring that the soil stays moist but not soggy. Reduce watering frequency once the plant is established but maintain regular irrigation during hot or dry spells.
  2. Fertilization: Feed your gardenia with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants (such as azaleas or camellias) in early spring and again in mid-summer. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can promote leaf growth over flower production. Organic options like fish emulsion or compost can also work well.
  3. Monitoring: Watch for signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves, which can indicate issues with soil pH or drainage. Check for pests like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies, and treat them with insecticidal soap if needed.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care:

  1. Watering & Fertilization: After the first year, water regularly during dry spells, but ensure the soil has dried slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Fertilize in early spring and again in midsummer with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for acid-loving plants.
  2. Pruning: Prune after flowering in late spring or early summer to shape the plant and encourage denser growth. Remove dead or damaged branches and thin out the interior of the plant to improve air circulation. Gardenias bloom on old wood, so avoid heavy pruning after mid-summer to avoid cutting off next year’s flower buds.
  3. Pest Control: Radicans Gardenia is susceptible to pests like aphids, mealybugs, and scale. Monitor regularly and treat infestations with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Sooty mold can develop on leaves if pests are left untreated, so it’s important to address problems early.

Additional Tips for Success with Radicans Gardenia:

  1. Acidic Soil Maintenance: Regularly test your soil’s pH to ensure it stays within the acidic range. Use soil acidifiers like sulfur or iron sulfate if the pH starts to rise.
  2. Mulching: Apply mulch every year in spring to keep the soil cool and maintain consistent moisture. This also helps prevent weeds from competing for nutrients and water.
  3. Cold Protection: While Radicans Gardenias are hardy in zones 7-11, they can be sensitive to extreme cold. If you're in a borderline zone (like zone 7), apply a thick layer of mulch around the base in late fall to protect the roots from frost. In colder regions, consider planting them in containers to bring indoors during winter.
  4. Flowering and Fragrance: Radicans Gardenia typically blooms from late spring to early summer, filling your garden with its signature fragrance. To maximize blooms, ensure it receives enough sunlight and maintain a steady watering schedule during dry periods.

What Customers say about the Radicans Gardenia Shrub:

The Radicans Gardenia Shrub thrives in Zones 7-10

Growing Zones for the Radicans Gardenia Shrub

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Radicans Gardenia Shrub.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 7-10
Mature Height 1-2 ft.
Mature Width 3-4 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

A close-up of a single creamy white gardenia flower with glossy green leaves.

Beware- not all Radicans Gardenias are the same.

Be sure to get superior gardenias, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" gardenias to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Radicans Gardenias in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that will explode with growth and blooms!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall gardenias in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" shrub, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy shrub.

A compact Radicans Gardenia plant with white blooms in a light green pot.

Radicans Gardenia packs classic gardenia fragrance into a low, spreading evergreen- perfect for borders, edging and containers.

  • Creamy white, star-shaped flowers with a rich, sweet fragrance from late spring into summer
  • Low and spreading: just 1-2 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide
  • Evergreen ground cover: plant 2-3 ft. apart for a dense, glossy carpet
  • Handles heat and humidity and is hardy in zones 7-10

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

A fully opened white gardenia flower surrounded by deep green foliage.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure plants including the pot and roots, so the plant you receive is much smaller than you expected. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Radicans Gardenias Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship small, weak gardenias grown in tiny pots to save money. These "root bound" plants struggle after planting and take longer to bloom well.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Radicans Gardenias, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. That means they settle in quickly and start filling your garden with fragrant white blooms sooner.

Read more about the Radicans Gardenia Shrub

Radicans Gardenia – A Compact Beauty with Fragrant, Snow-White Blooms

The Radicans Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans') is a charming, low-growing evergreen shrub known for its glossy, deep green leaves and intoxicatingly fragrant white blooms. Perfect for adding elegance and sweet fragrance to small garden spaces, borders, or containers, the Radicans Gardenia is a versatile, easy-to-care-for plant that provides year-round appeal. With its petite size and heavenly scent, this gardenia variety is an excellent choice for homeowners seeking both beauty and fragrance in a compact form.

Key Features of Radicans Gardenia:

  • Fragrant White Blooms: Fills your garden with creamy white, star-shaped flowers that are highly fragrant, blooming from late spring through summer.
  • Compact, Low-Growing Form: Stays small and tidy, growing 1-2 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, making it ideal for ground cover, borders, or containers.
  • Glossy, Evergreen Foliage: Its rich, dark green leaves provide year-round color and contrast beautifully with the bright white blooms.
  • Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant: Thrives in USDA Zones 7-10, making it adaptable to both warm climates and mild winters.
  • Low Maintenance: Easy to grow with minimal care once established, requiring only basic watering and occasional pruning to maintain its shape.

A Fragrant Favorite for Small Spaces and Ground Cover

The Radicans Gardenia is a wonderful choice for gardeners with limited space who still want the beauty and fragrance of traditional gardenias. Its low, spreading habit makes it ideal as a ground cover, for edging along pathways, or in front of larger shrubs. Despite its smaller size, this variety produces the same large, fragrant blooms that gardenias are known for, filling the air with a delightful, sweet scent. Plant it near patios, walkways, or windows where you can enjoy its fragrance up close.

Year-Round Evergreen Beauty

While the Radicans Gardenia is famous for its showy, fragrant flowers, it also provides year-round visual interest with its glossy, dark green leaves. Even when not in bloom, the dense evergreen foliage remains vibrant, adding structure and color to your landscape throughout all four seasons. Its low-growing, spreading habit makes it an attractive ground cover that stays green and lush even in winter.

Low Maintenance and Easy to Grow

The Radicans Gardenia is a low-maintenance plant that rewards homeowners with beautiful blooms and minimal care. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Once established, this gardenia is drought-tolerant and requires only occasional watering, making it a great option for busy homeowners. Light pruning after the bloom cycle will help maintain its neat, compact shape, though it naturally grows in a tidy, spreading form.

Ideal for Borders, Containers, or Mass Planting

With its compact size and spreading habit, the Radicans Gardenia is versatile enough to be used in a variety of landscape settings. Plant it as a border along walkways or garden beds to create a fragrant, low hedge, or use it in mass plantings for ground cover that provides both beauty and functionality. The Radicans Gardenia also performs well in containers, making it an ideal choice for patios, porches, or small urban gardens. Wherever you plant it, this gardenia will add elegance, fragrance, and year-round beauty.

Cold Hardy and Heat Tolerant

The Radicans Gardenia is hardy in USDA Zones 7-10, meaning it can handle warm climates and mild winters with ease. Its ability to tolerate heat and humidity makes it an excellent choice for southern gardens, while its cold tolerance allows it to thrive in regions with cooler winters. This adaptability ensures that the Radicans Gardenia will bring beauty and fragrance to a wide range of climates.

Why Choose Nationwide Plants?

At Nationwide Plants, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality shrubs and plants, grown with expert care to ensure they arrive at your home healthy and ready to thrive. Our Radicans Gardenia shrubs are hand-selected to ensure vibrant blooms and lush, evergreen foliage. With fast shipping and a commitment to customer satisfaction, Nationwide Plants is your trusted source for premium gardenias and more.

Bring the Fragrance of Gardenia to Your Garden – Order Your Radicans Gardenia Today!

Add beauty, elegance, and intoxicating fragrance to your landscape with the Radicans Gardenia. Whether you’re creating a fragrant border, filling containers, or using it as a ground cover, this compact gardenia delivers year-round appeal and effortless beauty. Order now from Nationwide Plants and enjoy fast delivery of this exquisite shrub right to your home!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Radicans Gardenia Shrub

How big does a Radicans Gardenia get?

A Radicans Gardenia stays low, growing just 1 to 2 feet tall while spreading 3 to 4 feet wide. Its compact, spreading habit makes it a great evergreen ground cover, edging plant for walkways, or low border in front of taller shrubs. It also fits nicely in patio containers.

When does Radicans Gardenia bloom?

Radicans Gardenia blooms from late spring into summer, producing creamy white, star-shaped flowers with a rich, sweet fragrance. Plant it near patios, walkways, or windows where you can enjoy the scent up close. Enough sunlight and steady watering during dry spells help maximize flowering.

What zones does Radicans Gardenia grow in?

Radicans Gardenia grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. It handles heat and humidity well, making it a favorite for southern gardens. In zone 7, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base in late fall to protect the roots, and in colder regions grow it in a container you can bring indoors.

Does Radicans Gardenia need sun or shade?

Radicans Gardenia grows in full sun to partial shade, and ideally gets morning sun with afternoon shade in hot climates. In cooler zones, give it more sun to encourage better blooming. Too much deep shade will reduce the number of fragrant flowers.

How far apart should I plant Radicans Gardenia for ground cover?

Plant Radicans Gardenia about 2 to 3 feet apart for ground cover or a low border. With a mature spread of 3 to 4 feet, the plants will knit together into a dense, glossy evergreen carpet. Good spacing also allows airflow, which helps discourage pests and fungal problems.

What soil does a Radicans Gardenia need?

A Radicans Gardenia needs rich, well-draining, acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. If your soil is alkaline, amend it with compost, peat moss, or sulfur. Gardenias are sensitive to soggy soil, so plant the root ball slightly above ground level and mulch 2 to 3 inches deep.

Why are the leaves on my Radicans Gardenia turning yellow?

Yellow leaves on a Radicans Gardenia usually point to soil that is not acidic enough or drains poorly. Test the soil pH and correct it with sulfur or iron sulfate if it is rising above the acidic range. Also make sure the soil dries slightly between waterings, and check for pests like aphids or whiteflies.

When should I prune Radicans Gardenia?

Prune Radicans Gardenia right after it finishes flowering in late spring or early summer. Gardenias bloom on old wood, so avoid heavy pruning after midsummer or you may cut off next year's flower buds. Remove dead branches and lightly thin the interior to improve air circulation.

How should I fertilize Radicans Gardenia?

Fertilize Radicans Gardenia in early spring and again in midsummer with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants such as azaleas and camellias. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leaves over flowers. Organic options like fish emulsion or compost also work well.

Is Radicans Gardenia toxic to pets?

Yes, gardenias are considered mildly toxic to dogs and cats. If a pet chews on the leaves or flowers, it may experience mild vomiting, diarrhea, or drooling. Serious poisoning is uncommon, but it is best to plant it where pets are not tempted to chew and to call your veterinarian if symptoms appear.
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