Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’) is a miniature cultivar of Gardenia jasminoides and is favored for its dark, leathery foliage and fragrant white flowers. While heat- and drought-tolerant, cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ does not do well in colder climates. Otherwise, it blooms profusely throughout late spring and summer in garden beds and containers.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
A true miniature Gardenia, Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’ (Cape Jasmine) is a small, prostrate or spreading, evergreen shrub with lustrous, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and strongly fragrant, petite double white flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm). Blooming profusely in late spring to early summer, this dwarf shrub has an open, horizontal branching that makes it ideal for containers, low borders, or as groundcovers. Heat and drought tolerant.
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 ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’ is sometimes able to tolerate full sun. If you’re growing your cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ indoors, make sure that it receives at least six hours of light through a sunny window.
Temperature
Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’. If it experiences freezing temperatures, it may not be able to grow back the next year.
Watering
Originating from the humid environments of East Asia, cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ thrives with consistent moisture. It exhibits a preference for well-hydrated soil but is also somewhat drought-tolerant once established. Care should be taken to maintain soil moisture without waterlogging, thus watering once every 1-2 weeks suffices. As an evergreen plant commonly grown indoors, cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ benefits from higher humidity levels which can emulate its native tropical conditions and promote lush foliage.
Soil
Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’. 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
For healthy plants, fertilize your cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ once a month in the spring and the summer, stopping as soon as the cooler weather rolls in. Make sure that your fertilizer is one that has been designed for acid-loving plants to maintain the pH level of the soil. Fertilizer should contain roughly equal proportions of the three main elements (N％-P2O5％-K2O％) with 3-1-2 or 3-1-3. It will be especially beneficial when it comes to encouraging new growth.
Don’t be tempted to over-fertilize, as this will only end up burning your plants, making it wise to dilute the concentration of your fertilizer a little more than you usually would.
Planting Instructions
While cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’ around 91 to 183 cm apart to give it the chance to grow into a natural round shape.
Pruning
Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’, neatly cutting through the bark in areas that need shaping.
Propagation
Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ is easily propagated, and this is usually done in the summer, after the plants have been pruned. Cuttings can be dipped into a rooting hormone and then planted in soil, where they should form their own roots in about 4 to 8 weeks.
Transplanting
Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ thrives when transplanted from the beginning of summer through its end due to the warm soil temperatures. Ensure it’s placed in a sunny to partially shaded spot, offering good drainage and moderate protection from harsh winds.
III. Harvesting and Storage
Cape jasmine ‘Radicans’ 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 ‘Radicans’ does not have a long shelf life, so use it as soon as possible.
