Frostproof Gardenia Plant – Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frostproof’ (Cold-Hardy Fragrant White Gardenia, Live Starter Plant)

The Frostproof Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frostproof’) gives you everything you love about gardenias, the intoxicating fragrance, glossy evergreen foliage, and pristine white blooms, with one big advantage. Specifically, it is the most cold-hardy gardenia you can grow. True to its name, its flower buds shrug off late-spring frosts that would wipe out the blooms of other gardenias, so you get a reliable show of sweetly scented, double white flowers year after year. Compact, upright, and more sun-tolerant than most gardenias, the Frostproof Gardenia brings Southern fragrance to gardens well beyond the Deep South.

Why Grow a Frostproof Gardenia?

• The hardiest gardenia – flower buds resist late-spring frosts, and the plant is hardy down to zone 7 (and protected zone 6), where most gardenias cannot grow.
• Intense fragrance – sweetly scented, double white flowers, about 2–3 inches across, from late spring into summer.
• Glossy evergreen foliage – thick, dark green leaves give year-round structure and good looks.
• Deer-resistant & pollinator-friendly – deer tend to leave it alone, while bees and butterflies visit the fragrant blooms.
• More sun-tolerant – also takes more direct sun than other gardenias, with a tidy, upright habit perfect for hedges and foundations.

Looking for more fragrant and flowering shrubs? Browse our Flowering Plants and Shrubs & Bushes collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

• Botanical name: Gardenia jasminoides ‘Frostproof’ (Cape Jasmine)
• Plant type: Cold-hardy, fragrant, evergreen flowering shrub
• Plant family: Rubiaceae (the madder/coffee family)
• Mature size: a slow-to-moderate grower to about 3–5 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, with an upright, bushy habit
• Flowers: Sweetly fragrant, white, double blooms about 2–3 inches across
• Bloom season: Late spring into summer, with sporadic reblooming
• Notable traits: The most cold-hardy gardenia; frost-resistant buds; deer-resistant; pollinator-friendly
• Cold Hardiness Zones: 7–11

Frostproof Gardenia Care & Growing Guide

Gardenias reward the right conditions with months of fragrant blooms. Follow these guidelines:

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade, since it tolerates more sun than other gardenias. However, in very hot climates, give it morning sun and some afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch and bud drop.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially the first year and in extreme heat, but never soggy. In addition, water at the base to keep the foliage dry.
• Soil: Prefers moist, organically rich, well-drained, acidic soil (about pH 5.5–6.5). Because alkaline soil causes the leaves to yellow, acidic conditions are important.
• Cold Hardiness Zone: 7–11. In the coldest part of its range, mulch the roots and shelter it from harsh winter wind, since it may drop some leaves in zone 7 and rebound in spring.
• Pruning & feeding: Prune lightly after flowering to shape, and mulch to keep roots cool and moist. In addition, feed with a fertilizer for acid-loving plants during the growing season.

Good to know: gardenias are considered toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested. Therefore, keep pets from nibbling on the plant.

Ways to Use Frostproof Gardenia in the Landscape

This fragrant, hardy shrub fits scented, year-round designs. Popular uses for the Frostproof Gardenia include:

• Fragrant low hedge or foundation planting
• Also a specimen or accent near patios, entries, and windows for scent
• Mixed borders and mass plantings
• Similarly, containers and patio pots (move to shelter in the coldest zones)
• Cutting gardens — the blooms make beautiful, fragrant arrangements

It pairs beautifully with other gardenias and acid-loving shrubs. For example, gardeners often combine it with the larger August Beauty Gardenia, the everblooming Veitchii Gardenia, or the acid-loving Ruby Loropetalum.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Frostproof Gardenia starter plants, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Each plant is less than 12 inches tall when we ship it. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. That way, you can see how yours will look as they grow and bloom. Finally, choose your preferred bundle size using the options above.

Also, due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees where necessary to comply.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order, you agree to those terms.

Frostproof Gardenia FAQ

Growing & Care Questions

Hardiness, Buying & Shipping Questions