Cape Jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ is a Cape jasmine cultivar, primarily noted for its long flowering season. The double white flowers provide almost a year-round show, emitting an extremely pleasant fragrance during that time. The cultivar is also prized for its ability to withstand drought, heat, and cold better than other Cape jasmine cultivars.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Noted for its extremely long blooming season, Gardenia jasminoides ‘Four Seasons’ (Cape Jasmine) is a compact, low-growing, evergreen shrub with shiny, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and sweetly fragrant, loose, double, pure white flowers. Blooming from spring to fall, this everblooming Gardenia makes a splendid specimen and a wonderful container plant. To be placed near doorways and on patios, where its fragrance can be enjoyed!
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The plants in the Gardenia genus love bright sunlight, especially in the mornings, but this needs to be indirect. If you don’t provide your cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ with some shade, you will likely end up with scorched and wilted leaves, along with spindly stems and fewer flowers. The exception to this would be in cooler regions, where cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ is sometimes able to tolerate full sun. If you’re growing your cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ indoors, make sure that it receives at least six hours of light through a sunny window.
Temperature
Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ is native to tropical and subtropical regions, meaning that it requires warm temperatures and high humidity to thrive. Gardeners in cooler regions often grow cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ in containers, keeping it outside in the summer but then bringing it in as a houseplant in the winter. Ideally, you need an average daytime temperature of around 20 to 23 ℃and a night temperature of about 15 to 16 ℃ to successfully grow a cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’. If it experiences freezing temperatures, it may not be able to grow back the next year.
Watering
Originating from humid, subtropical regions, cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ thrives in environments that mimic its native moist conditions. It has a preference for consistent moisture but is adaptable to short periods of dryness. Watering every week maintains its lush foliage and supports its blooming cycle. Cultivated primarily as an ornamental indoor plant, cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ benefits greatly from increased humidity, which can be achieved through regular misting or placement on a pebble tray, enhancing both leaf health and flower quality.
Soil
Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ requires acidic soil with a pH of between 5 and 6.5, preferring soil to be well-draining, organic and rich in nutrients. Soil test kits are the best way to determine how acidic your soil is. Don’t forget to also test your water source too – tap water is usually slightly alkaline to prevent water pipe erosion.
If your soil is too alkaline, there are a number of amendments that you can mix in, such as peat moss, elemental sulfur, and iron sulfate. Using diluted vinegar is another common way to quickly acidify the soil.
Soils that are heavy in sand, clay or silt should be amended with organic matter, be it aged manure, ground bark or finished compost, before being used for cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’. Other organic supplements, such as leaf mold and alfalfa meal, can help to boost growth, as will a 5 to 10 cm layer of organic mulch applied each spring around the base of the plant.
Fertilizing
To promote robust growth and abundant flowering in cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’, apply balanced nutrition fertilizers in spring and summer and high-nitrogen variants in early growth phases. Fertilize bi-weekly during active growth, tapering to monthly in fall. Use diluted solutions, adhering to product guidelines. Over-fertilization risks root burn; yellowing leaves may indicate excess. Adjust based on growth stage and seasonal changes, less in winter. For efficacy, water soil before feeding, ensuring nutrient absorption without root damage.
Planting Instructions
While cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ can be grown from both seeds and cuttings, many gardeners choose to purchase established plants. Whether you choose a plug plant or a more mature shrub, pick a spot in your garden that enjoys bright, filtered light, preferably on a sheltered side of a building or structure to provide some extra protection from winter winds. However, don’t plant your cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ too near to a concrete surface, as the water run-off from this will be alkaline, which will disrupt the pH level of your acidic soil.
Dig a hole that is twice the size of your plant’s root ball, making sure that, when you place the plant in, the top of its original root ball sits just about level with the soil that surrounds it. Fill in with suitable soil, creating a gentle mound that slopes away from the plant, as this will help with water drainage. Space your cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ around 91 to 183 cm apart to give it the chance to grow into a natural round shape.
Pruning
Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ does not really require much pruning for maintenance, but many choose to lightly prune as a way to shape it. If you choose to do so, do this in the summer, immediately after all of the flowers have faded. Don’t leave it too long, as cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ sets flower buds for the following year in the fall, meaning that you may end up cutting away these new buds. Use sharp shears to prune your cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’, neatly cutting through the bark in areas that need shaping.
Propagation
This evergreen shrub, with its lush, glossy foliage and heavily scented flowers, thrives in well-drained, acidic soil with moderate water. Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ is best propagated through cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings from the current season’s growth root most effectively when treated with rooting hormone and placed in a moist, soilless medium. Keep these cuttings under high humidity—using a plastic cover can help—and ensure they have bottom warmth to encourage root development. Once rooted, transplant them into individual pots with the same soil requirements as adult plants.
Transplanting
Transplant cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ in mid to late spring or late autumn to early winter for optimal growth. Choose a well-drained, partially shaded spot to ensure success. Proper timing and location are key for cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons”s flourishing.
Repotting
Repot cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ every 2-3 years in spring, when new growth begins. As a bushy evergreen, it prefers well-draining, acidic soil in a pot that’s 1-2 inches larger. Post-repotting, keep cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ in indirect light, maintaining moist soil and high humidity for swift recovery. These strategies support cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons”s vibrant blooms and glossy foliage.
Pests and Diseases
Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ may be affected by powdery mildew, leaf spots, dieback, anthracnose, sooty mold, whiteflies, mealybugs, scales, aphids and spider mites.
III. Uses and Benefits
Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ may be used in large containers and is ideal for hedges, mass planting or as a single specimen. Great cut flowers.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ makes a gorgeous cut flower, but keep in mind that the flowers will turn brown wherever you touch them, so avoid touching the petals as much as possible. Harvest stems in the early morning or late evening, using sharp shears to separate them from the main plant. Once harvested, cape jasmine ‘Four Seasons’ does not have a long shelf life, so use it as soon as possible.