Gardenia Steady as She Goes™

A Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub, Gardenia Steady as She Goes™ is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that grows to approximately 3 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet wide. This freely branching shrub adds lovely structure and texture to the garden with gorgeous shimmery foliage, which stays dense and beautiful 12 months of the year. And Steady as She Goes blooms like crazy, continuously setting buds on old wood from spring right through to the first frost. The bright white double blooms look absolutely vibrant against the dense, dark green leaves. Romantic and sweetly scented, the seemingly endless flowers attract pollinators to the garden, including butterflies, and make exceptional cuts for indoor displays. Just place cut flowers in a cool spot and mist frequently with water. Short-stemmed flowers are often floated in a shallow glass bowl.

A Gardenia jasminoides, commonly called gardenia or cape jasmine, Steady as She Goes has an upright, mounding habit and a slow, steady growth rate. The shrub makes a stunning specimen, foundation, or container plant; and it's a welcome addition to beds and borders. But it creates a gorgeous flowering hedge when massed. It's especially nice planted around high traffic areas, like patios and walkways, where its wonderful fragrance will be especially appreciated.

Steady as She Goes is winter hardy for a gardenia. It grows best in sunny to partly sunny locations with moist, well-draining soil, but it tolerates clay, loam, and sandy soils. Steady as She Goes is bred to be heat tolerant, but some afternoon shade may be beneficial in hot climates. Keep the shrub moist until established then water deeply and less frequently as needed during the growing season. Fertilize in spring and prune to remove damaged or dead branches. This gardenia is very deer resistant resistant.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs