Choosing Suitable Gardenia Plant Companions
Gardenia thrives in partial shade, preferring morning sunlight with shade during sunny afternoons. The best gardenia plant companions are other plants that tolerate conditions that are less than sunny. Gardenias also prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil, so select gardenia plant companions accordingly. Select plants that won’t compete with gardenia’s root zone, and allow adequate spacing to prevent crowding. As a general rule, plants with relatively shallow roots are good gardenia plant companions. Avoid heavily scented plants that may compete or masque the intoxicating aroma of gardenias. Annuals are always good companion plants for gardenias, but be careful that the colors don’t “fight” with their creamy white blooms. Also, bear in mind that most gardenia plants grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10, although some newer hybrid gardenias tolerate the cooler temperatures of zone 8. When considering companion plants for gardenias, select plants that are happy within those zones.
What to Plant with Gardenias
Here are a few suggestions for gardenia companion planting. Blooming annuals
Wax begonia Impatiens Primrose
Perennials for partial shade
Hosta Ferns Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga)
Shrubs
Rhododendrons and azalea (prefer acidic soil) Boxwood Camellia Summersweet (Clethra) Virginia sweetspire
