Gardenia Tree ‘Aimee’

The most fragrant gardenia you can grow — large double white blooms that arrive early and fill the air with the richest, most classic gardenia perfume imaginable.

Gardenia jasminoides 'Aimee' is an early-blooming gardenia variety prized for its large, fully double white flowers and its exceptional fragrance. It blooms ahead of most gardenias, filling the air with rich, classic perfume just as the season warms up. The glossy, deep green foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for the pure white blooms and stays handsome year-round in warm climates. Trained into a compact tree form, it reaches 4–6 feet tall — the perfect size for a patio, entryway, or container that can be moved indoors when temperatures drop.

What I love about it

Gardenia fragrance is one of the great sensory experiences in the garden, and 'Aimee' delivers it in abundance. The blooms are large and full, the fragrance is rich and unmistakable, and the early bloom time means you're enjoying it before most other gardenias have even set bud. Plant it near an entryway, a patio door, or an open window and the fragrance will find you. In containers it's easy to move indoors before frost, extending the season and protecting the plant. A little extra care — acidic soil, consistent moisture, bright light — pays back in extraordinary fragrance and beauty.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Bright indirect light; morning sun with afternoon shade in hot climates
• 💧 Water: Keep consistently moist; think evenly damp, not soggy
• 🧪 Soil: Acidic soil (pH 5.0–6.0); amend with peat moss or sulfur if needed
• 🪴 Difficulty: Moderate — needs acidic soil and consistent moisture
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Toxic to cats and dogs — keep out of reach
• 💧 Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 4–6 ft tall (tree form)
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• Bloom Time: Late spring into early summer; early-blooming variety
• Flower: Large, double white; intensely fragrant
• Foliage: Glossy dark green; evergreen in warm climates
• Growing Zone: 8–11 outdoors; container-friendly in all zones

Bloom bold. Be cheeky.