Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 9 Oct 2025

Surprising Miniature Gardenia

Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia

Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia

Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia

Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia

Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia

Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia

💮 Surprising Miniature Gardenia
  • Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia - can surprise even longtime gardenia fans. It has all the charm of the classic shrub - glossy green leaves, pure white flowers, and that unforgettable fragrance - but in a smaller, easier form.
  • Natural bonsai. This little plant grows low and wide, staying under 1-2 feet tall and spreading up to 3-4 feet. It forms a dense mound or creeping groundcover that looks great along walkways or spilling from a pot. The leaves are tiny and shiny, giving it a neat, polished look all year.
  • The flowers are about an inch across, double or semi-double, and smell just like the full-size gardenia. They bloom in spring and often return through summer, filling the air with perfume.
  • Easier than other gardenias. Gardenia radicans isn’t as fussy as most gardenias. It can handle clay, sandy, or loamy soil as long as it drains well. Once established, it’s fairly drought-tolerant and can even handle some cold, down to around 15F in protected spots.
  • Where to plant. It's perfect for small gardens, patios, or as a bonsai. You get the luxury fragrance of a gardenia without needing a big space. Use it as a groundcover, edging plant, or container specimen. It's one of those plants that stays tidy, looks refined, and keeps blooming. For anyone who loves gardenias but wants something compact and low-maintenance, Gardenia radicans is a great find.


🛒 Add unique Mini-Gardenia to your collection

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 11 Feb 2021

Curious Gardenia graft

Q: I was told to send you pictures of my hybrid gardenia tree. About 6 months ago the new growth on the top of one side became crinkled. It doesn't get straightened out either. It seems like it just stays like that until it falls off. Any ideas?

A: Your plant is not sick at all. This is what happened...
Your gardenia is a grafted variety. Gardenia varieties (Gardenia jasminoides hybrids) are grafted on rootstock of Gardenia thunbergia (this species is nematode-resistant and used for rootstock especially in Florida). The side branch that you call "crinkled" is actually the rootstock (Gardenia thunbergia) growing from UNDER the graft. Gardenia thunbergia has naturally "wavy" leaves.
If you follow this branch to its base, you will see where it starts - right below the graft. This happens very often.
You need to remove this branch altogether, from the point where it starts. It sucks energy from the plant and eventually may take over the whole plant.

Photo above: Gardenia thunbergia with curly leaves

Date: 31 May 2024

What is this shocking pink gardenia? Does it exist?

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

👁 What is this shocking pink gardenia? Does it exist?
  • 🌸 Kopsia fruticosa: fondly known as the "Pink Gardenia", this gem is one of nature's most exquisite and elusive treasures.
  • 🌸 Its flowers are a marvel, transitioning from delicate light pink to deep hues with crimson centers, emitting a subtle fragrance.
  • 🌸 Imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon this enchanting plant labeled as a Pink Gardenia during our expedition in Thailand!
  • 🌸 Intrigued, we delved deeper into its botanical identity. While technically not a Gardenia, this beauty is a close relative of Plumeria and Adenium we mentioned earlier, as well as Tabernaemontana (also often confused with Gardenia). All these beauties belong to the esteemed plant family Apocynaceae.
  • 🌸 It's no wonder this plant has captured our hearts; its beauty is simply irresistible, leaving us wanting more.
  • 🌸 With its compact growth habit, it's perfect for containers or in-ground planting, adding a touch of elegance to any garden space.


🛒
Treat yourself with a Pink Gardenia!

#Perfume_Plants #Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 17 May 2024

How not to kill a gardenia? Gardenias always struggling? Meet the only EASY gardenia

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, Vietnamese Gardenia

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, Vietnamese Gardenia

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, Vietnamese Gardenia

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, Vietnamese Gardenia

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, Vietnamese Gardenia

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, Vietnamese Gardenia

🏆 How not to kill a gardenia? Gardenias always struggling? Meet the only EASY gardenia.

Kailarsenia vietnamensis, or Vietnamese Gardenia, boasts large, fragrant flowers that are so easy to grow.
  • 💠 Resilient and cold-hardy, it tolerates overwatering and poor soils with ease, unlike most gardenias that are very sensitive to water and soil conditions.
  • 💠 Not sensitive to root nematodes, unlike other gardenias (so the plant doesn't have to be grafted).
  • 💠 Its stunning flowers, resembling beautiful artworks, fill the air with a lovely scent.
  • 💠 Whether in containers or in the ground, this bushy beauty thrives indoors or outdoors, adding versatility and charm to any space.


📚 Learn more about Vietnamese Gardenia

🛒 Order Vietnamese Gardenia

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 14 May 2019

How to make the whole garden fragrant.
List of the most fragrant yet easy to grow plants

TopTropicals.com

Q: Dear toptropicals, thanks for the great database on tropicals plants! I really enjoy browsing your web site and I am planning on completing my collection by purchasing some plants from your shop. I am particularly looking for fragrant plants that make the whole area fragrant. Can you provide a list of recommended fragrant plants that bloom throughout the year round? I currently have: murraya, plumeria, michelia alba, figo, champaca, rangoon creeper, honeysuckle, jasmine, stephanotis, Arabian sambac, brunfelsias.

A: As a must-have additions to your impressive fragrant plant collection, we can recommend the following rare fragrant plants below. These are our favorites that are easy to grow and free-flowering. Since they flower at different times, they will add fragrance to your garden throughout the year.
Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant
Aloysia virgata - Almond Bush
Beaumontia grandiflora - Easter Lily Vine
Brugmansia Variegated Orange Angel Trumpet
Brunfelsia magnifica floribunda Jims Giant (very fragrant and very compact!)
Cananga fruticosa - Dwarf Ylang-Ylang
Cerbera x manghas hybrid - Enchanted Incense
Cestrum nocturnum - Night blooming jasmine
Crinum Queen Emma - Spider lily
Eucharis grandiflora - Amazon Lily
Euodia hortensis - Scented Evodia, Golden False Aralia (very fragrant leaves!)
Hedychium coronarium - Butterfly Ginger
Hiptage benghalensis - Helicopter Flower
Jasminum dichotomum - Rose Bud Jasmine - very fragrant!
Magnolia virginiana - Sweet Bay
Millettia reticulata - Evergreen Wisteria
Mirabilis jalapa - Four oclock plant - super fragrant!
Osmanthus x fortunei - Fortunes Tea Olive
Oxyceros horridus- one of the most intense perfume fragrances!
Radermachera Kunming - Dwarf Tree Jasmine
Satureja Viminea - Kama Sutra Mint Tree - strong mint fragrance
Sclerochiton harveyanus - Blue Lips, Mazabuka - lavender fragrance
Solandra maxima - Variegated Butter Cup
Telosoma cordata - Pakalana vine
Wrightia religiosa - Sacred Buddhist
You may consider many varieties of gardenias, and the most rewarding are:
Gardenia vietnamensis - Vietnamese Gardenia
Gardenia Aimee Yoshioka (First Love)
Gardenia posoqueria - Shooting Star Gardenia
Gardenia taitensis Heaven Scent (double flower)
Gardenia taitensis Tiare Tahiti, single flower
Gardenia tubifera Kula - Golden Gardenia
To see the full list of fragrant flowers, follow this link.