7 Companion Plants for Gardenias: The Perfect Combinations

Companion plants for gardenias are one of the most beautiful option of the Gardenia genus plants since they are numerous.

Many beautiful plants pair well with Gardenia jasminoides or gardenia, not just because of their aesthetics but also because of their insect-repelling abilities. Read about at some of the best companion plants for gardenias.

List of Companion Plants for Gardenias.

1. Hydrangea Shrubs

The hydrangea plant is also known as hortensia. The shrub is indigenous to parts of Asia and the Americas, may even be known as hydrangea macrophylla. 

– Features

Hydrangeas can be evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species. Their bright, colorful flowers make them an ideal companion for the green-leaf gardenia plant.

Hydrangea is easy to grow. Even the newest gardener will have little problem cultivating it. These plants stun with flowers of different colors such as; blue, pink, white, and lavender. Sometimes, each shrub can have one distinct color of flowers. Other times, the flowers can have a combination of different colors.

Hydrangea companion plants are simply perfect for gardenias as there are wide varieties to choose from, depending on your garden needs. They can be used as border plants or grown in containers.

– The Best Time to Grow

You can plant hydrangea during the Fall and Spring seasons. Planting during these periods ensures that your hydrangea plants don’t die off from excessive heat or cold. This way, they can grow easily and adapt to the upcoming fall or rise in temperature.

Also, after considering the seasons, it is important to consider the planting time as well. The hydrangeas are better planted in the mornings and late evenings in the absence of excessive heat or direct sunlight.

– Growth Requirements

Hydrangea plants require a lot of water, especially during their developing years, so be sure to water them at least three times a week.

In order to get the best out of your plant’s leaves and flowers, you must ensure that the soil is moist and well-draining. One way that you can make sure that the soil remains moist is by adding some organic mulch and misting it.

Adding organic mulch does double duty- it keeps water from evaporating, adds nutrients to the soil, and improves its texture. Hydrangeas do well in soils with pH ranging from acidic to alkaline, depending on the variety. This is significant to note when picking the type to plant.

2. Cornflower 

The next companion plant on the list of suitable and favorable plants for gardenias is the Cornflower, also known as Bachelor’s button. It is an ornamental plant found in many American and Australian gardens, it is also known as Centaurea Cyanus. 

– Features

This annual plant produces stunning blooms in different shades of colors. The most popular varieties usually have vividly blue flowers.

Other varieties of Cornflower produce red, purple, white, and pink flowers. These plants are hardy and can be planted in beds or borders.

The bright colors of their flowers make them the best diamond spire gardenia companion plants as they give the landscape a beautiful contrast. Cornflowers can be used in floral arrangements when they’re dry or freshly cut.

– The Best Time to Grow

There are two major planting seasons for Cornflowers. You can choose to plant in Spring and watch your flowers bloom all summer, or you can even to choose to plant between late summer and early fall and watch your plants bloom early the following year.

– Growth Requirements

Cornflower plants are easy to care for and grow, and they would be a great companion for gardenia. They require full sun and sometimes partial shade. These plants can survive in almost any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. To get healthy and luscious-looking plants, you will need to water regularly. 

3. Dahlia Plant

Dahlias are native to Central America. Their pretty blooms make them an interesting choice of Companion flowers. 

– Features

They are available to plant in bright shades of yellow, purple, orange, pink, red, and white and come in different sizes. The variety they offer makes them a favorite of gardeners and florists.

One interesting thing about Dahlias is that they grow from tubers. When they are growing in a healthy way, they can grow up to six feet tall. This height will add the perfect combination of texture and lushness to your gardenia garden.

– Best Season

You can expect your Dahlia plants to bloom all summer through fall, as long as it receives proper sun, it will thrive and, you will be enjoying these flowers for a long time. Therefore, it is ideal to begin planting during late Spring to get the most out of your plants.

– Requirements and Care

Dahlias can be particular about their growing conditions; however, the newer varieties are easy to grow and maintain.

You can plant these flowers on the ground or in containers. Whichever option you go for, it’s important to place them in full view of the sun, even if they are placed indoors, you can place them in a corner where it will receive sun.

However, when it comes to its hardiness zones, it’s best to be in zones eight and above, the plants will require a little shade, especially mid-afternoon when the sun is at its peak.

Another necessary requirement for optimum growth for Dahlias is the soil type, as they would thrive well in moist loamy soils that are well-drained. You can always add organic compost to your soil if it doesn’t contain enough nutrients. Basically, they do well in soils with a neutral pH.

4. Salvia

Salvia or salvia officinalis, is a good example of the Diamond spire gardenia companion plant. In addition, it is known as garden sage. 

– Advantages

It is a perennial plant with pungent-smelling blooms that are attractive to certain pollinators. Most species of these flowers are resistant to many pests, including spider mites. Keep this in mind when selecting these flowers for your garden.

– Features

Salvia is commonly known as Sage and they are used in different places as they have a variety of properties. The colorful flowers of Salvia grow on a long extended stem that can be seen above their velvety foliage. Like Gardenias, deer and rabbits avoid these plants.

– Growing Seasons

Salvia is best planted during spring, when all the late spring frost has disappeared. They produce flowers which would bloom all summer long, as they provide pops of colors when they’re paired with gardenias during this period.

– Growth Requirements

Salvia can tolerate high amounts of heat and drought, so they do well in full sun. The more delicate varieties of Salvia might thrive in shaded areas. However, the bloom yield will be low. Salvia requires well-drained soil with a pH Of 5.5 to 6.5.

5. Camellias

Camellias or camellia Sasanqua, are ornamental flowering plants. 

– Features

They have glossy foliage and large colorful flowers that pop even more when paired with gardenias. Their flowers are usually pink, red, or yellow. These plants can grow as tall as 50 feet.

– Benefits

Some varieties of camellias are used to make tea. These have white flowers, so they’re easily distinguishable. Planting Camellias with gardenias will ensure that your garden is covered with flowers almost all the time. This is because they have alternate blooming periods.

Camellias and Gardenias can be paired together without competing for nutrients and space. But, of course, they would need to be properly spaced.

– Growing Seasons

Ideally, Camellia should be planted anytime between fall and Spring. However, they can be planted almost any time of the year as long as they’re properly taken care of and all their growth requirements are met. But you should note that they would fully bloom and thrive in spring.

– Growth Requirements

With several varieties to choose from, Camellias thrive in partial shade, because full sun would harm them. In addition, just like all the other companion plants already listed of the gardenia, they do great in well-draining soil. The soil in which you plant them must be acidic, usually with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5.

6. Signet Marigold

Tagetes tenuifolia, also known as lemon marigold or golden marigold, is another wonderful plant you can pair with your gardenias. They grow wildly in Mexico and Central America. 

– Features

These plants have a lovely lemony fragrance that will pair well with the strong scent of gardenia plants. These marigold produces tiny colorful blooms, unlike the larger petals of regular marigolds. 

The flowers can be orange, golden, yellow, red, and sometimes two-toned in color. The leaves of Lemon marigolds are best described as lacy and green. In addition, the beautiful array of flowers and leaves this plant produces will bloom all summer through fall, adding a delicate contrast and texture to your gardenia garden.

– Advantages

While lemon marigold attracts butterflies and other pollinators, they repel pests, most especially aphids.

– Growing Seasons

Signet Marigold plants produce flowers from early summer, around August, to late fall around November. Therefore, it’s best to plant it at the beginning of Spring to get full blooms.

– Growth Requirements

Signet Marigold can grow up to 12 inches tall with the right growing conditions. They require little care and maintenance; you may even grow them as a home gardener without much prior planting experience, because they would thrive as well. To grow Signet Marigold, you will need to plant them in the view of the full sun in uniformly moist, well-draining soil.

7. Geranium

Another plant on the list is Geranium. They are also known as Geraniums or cranesbills. Geranium companion plants boast colorful fragrant blooms. 

– Characteristics

They will be perfect to pair with your gardenia as they require similar growing conditions. These plants grow well in garden beds and flower pots.

– Features

Geranium grows blooms of different vivid colors. The colors can range from pink, purple, and mauve to white. You can choose to plant different varieties of the plant with your gardenias for a more colorful landscape or choose a single type for a more simple look.

– Growing Season

Most varieties of Geranium do better in warmth, so it’s best to wait till after the frost has disappeared to plant them. Ideally, planting should start at the beginning of Spring so that the plants can begin flowering early enough during the summer.

– Growth Conditions

Geraniums are best planted in full sun; however, they can tolerate slight shade areas, and they would still thrive. In addition, they require moist, well-draining soils to grow properly.

It is usually recommended to mulch the soil to help it retain moisture. While Geranium plants grow well without extra nutrients, adding fertilizers can help improve the growth and yield of the blooms.

Conclusion

Gardenia is easy to grow and maintain. The perfect companion plant for it is a plant similar to gardenia in growth requirements and conditions, some of which have been listed in the article above.

Other options may include some ferns and evergreen shrubs. A few key notes:

• You can have fun and mix more than one variety of your choice companion plant as long as the growing conditions are met.
• Proper spacing is important to achieve the right look.
•  Gardenias have a distinct, powerful fragrance, so whatever you choose as a companion should have a scent that will complement it.
• Can you plant roses and gardenia together? Yes, you can. They’re perfect together. 

Numerous flowering plants look good with the gardenia plant; the trick is to narrow the list by considering their hardiness zones, sunlight, soil, and water preferences.

Many new and experienced gardeners might wonder what to plant with gardenias to improve the aesthetics of their gardens. After this, you can decide the most suitable ones to use as your gardenia companion plants. 

References

• Hydrangea macrophylla. Science Direct.
  Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/hydrangea-macrophylla
• Lokesh Kumar Narnoliya, Jyoti Singh Jadaun, and Sudhir P. Singh. (2019 Mar 9). The Phytochemical Composition, Biological Effects and Biotechnological Approaches to the Production of High-Value Essential Oil from Geranium. National Library of Medicine.
  Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7122831/