Growing Gardenias in
Lake Havasu City, Arizona

A few years ago I entered into a discussion with two women I know in Lake Havasu City. One is a close friend, and another is a friend of hers, whom is a casual acquaintance of mine. The topic was gardening in Lake Havasu City. According to my friend, our mutual acquaintance has an impressive garden at her Havasu home.  We began discussing the garden, and the woman told me one of the plants she grew successful was gardenias.  Gardenias?  That surprised me.

Sentimental about Gardenias

When it comes to gardenias, I’m rather sentimental. Gardenias were my beloved Grandma Hilda’s flower. At Grandma’s home in El Monte, California, she had a large gardenia bush by her front door, and when you were on the front porch, you could smell the sweet, distinct perfumed gardenia scent.

A gardenia bush has dark green leaves, and its flowers are snowy white, with velvety soft petals.  If touched, the blossom bruises easily and browns.  Grandma used to snip off flower heads, and bring them inside, where she would float the flowers in a bowl of water, to enjoy the blossoms.

By September, the gardenia bush should be done blooming for the season. But Grandma died in September of 1978, and there was one gardenia flower growing on her plant by her front door at time of her funeral. I remember, because my aunt removed the flower from the bush and laid it with Grandma in the coffin.

Gardenias Available in Havasu

Local nurseries carry gardenias, which is an indication the plant can be grown in the hot Arizona desert.  If you are looking for a sure thing, and aren’t up for a bit of a challenge, then you might want to pass on the gardenia for your Havasu garden. But, if you have your heart set on a gardenia bush, then give it a try.

My mother-in-law has a small gardenia bush growing in a pot by the front of her garage at her Havasu home. While the plant hasn’t offered up an abundance of flowers, it does provide a few flowers during the season.  Recently my mother-in-law bought me a small potted gardenia, which I kept on the patio during spring.  When it started to heat up, I brought the plant indoors and placed it on my window seat in my office.  So far, it looks good. I don’t believe my mother-in-law brings hers indoors.

Pruning Gardenias

Like any plant, it is essential to sanitize the gardening shears before pruning. When doing major pruning on the gardenia, wait until the plant finishes flowering for the season, and then prune immediately. If you delay pruning, the new buds will set for the next season, and your pruning may do nothing but remove next season’s flowerers.

While some plants need strategic cutting, with a gardenia prune it to suit your own desires – how you want to shape the plant.  Yet, focus on removing the older growth and try to leave the newer growth alone.  Newer branches tend to produce more flowers than the older branches. Older branches are thicker, and woody in appearance, while new branches are green and tender.

Growing Gardenias Indoors

According to the Arizona Master Gardener, when growing the gardenia indoors, there are several factors to consider. Gardenias need plenty of sunshine and require an acid soil, and an acid fertilizer, the same type used for the azalea. Never water the plant with soft water, and it requires a location with high humidity, something that is a bit tricky in Arizona, known for its dryness.  Desired night temperature is 60 degrees F.

Growing Gardenias Outdoors

When growing your gardenia outdoors, look for a site with morning sun and afternoon shade.  You may not have luck growing your gardenia in the ground, if you have calcareous soil. Gardenias, like hibiscus, are acid loving plants and do poorly in calcareous soil, as it is difficult to alter the pH level.  According to an article by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, one way to determine if your soil is calcareous is to pour a little vinegar on the ground, if it bubbles it is calcareous.

Gardenia Care

Gardenias don’t fare well in climates with severe cold or frost, a plus for Lake Havasu.  They require high humidity, yet don’t be tempted to mist the leaves.  One problem for Havasu gardenias, too much heat can inhibit bud growth.  The plant requires moist soil, and inconsistent soil moisture stresses the plant, causing buds to drop before they have a chance to open.

There are many flowering plants successfully grown in Lake Havasu City by the negligent gardener, the gardenia is not one.