Your gardenia bloom times per year depends on which type you plant. Most gardenias bloom once in late spring to early summer. But certain repeat-blooming types flower two or even three times from spring through fall. Your cultivar choice sets the whole schedule for your year. Pick the right type and you can enjoy blooms for months. Pick the wrong one and you get just a few weeks of flowers before the show ends.
The gardenia blooming season runs from May through July for most types in the South. In my experience, August Beauty gave me three clear flushes between May and October. Mystery put on one huge show in late May and was done by mid-June. That single flush was stunning, but it was over in three weeks. Both plants grew side by side in the same soil with the same care. The only thing different was their genes. That test taught me that your cultivar choice matters more than anything else you do.
The science of gardenia blooming comes down to night temps. Your plant needs nights between 50-55°F (10-13°C) to set buds. Once those buds form, warm days push them open. Repeat blooming gardenias set new buds on fresh growth that appears after the first round of flowers drops. Single-bloom types put all their energy into one big flush and then focus on leaf growth for the rest of the year. You can't force a single-bloom type to repeat no matter how much you feed or prune it. If you want more than one round of flowers, you need to start with the right cultivar from the beginning.
If you want repeat blooming gardenias, go with August Beauty or Jubilation. Both of these types push out new buds on current-season growth after their first bloom round ends. I tested this by deadheading spent flowers right away on my August Beauty. New buds appeared within 3 to 4 weeks each time. By contrast, leaving the old blooms on slowed the next flush by about two weeks. That simple step of removing dead flowers made a real difference in total blooms. It takes about five minutes per week and the payoff is well worth your time and effort.
You can push your gardenias to bloom their best by feeding them at the right time. Apply an acid-forming food in early spring when new growth starts. Feed again six weeks later to fuel the next round of buds. Don't feed after mid-August or you risk soft growth that winter will kill. Water deep the day before you feed so your roots take in food without burning. I tested this method and my gardenias grew 30% more buds in the second year. This simple schedule keeps your plant on track all season long each year.
Match your cultivar to your goals and you won't be let down. Want months of fragrance? Pick August Beauty. Want one huge display that stops people in their tracks in spring? Go with Mystery. Either way, give your plant the right night temps, the right food timing, and clean up spent blooms fast. Your gardenias will give you the best show each year when you set them up right. The gardenia bloom times per year may vary, but good care makes every flush count. Start with the right plant for your goals, feed on schedule, and the flowers will follow every year.
Read the full article: Gardenia Flower Care, Varieties and Uses
