Once again, Annie flubbed it. The tag I was recalling must have been for another plant, not the gardenias. I am so sorry about that mistaken info. BUT, it is cold hardy for 10 to 0 degrees (Zone 7), not just zone 8-10, so that is still pretty good. I went out and got the tag off one of the Gardenias. Here it is: Gardenia augusta, 'Crown Jewel' Crown Jewel Gardenia from Garden Debut A low-growing, spreading-to-prostrate Gardenia with double white, medium-sized flowers in early summer. Bright green foliage is medium to small sized for the species. Prefers well drained, moist soil. Campanion plants: Twist of Lie Variegated Abelia Golden Dream Boxwood Bunny Blue Sedge grass (shows images of each) Use: Used as a focal form in small landscapes and gardens Care: Newly planted landscapes require more frequent watering than established plants. Wind, temperature and soil tpe are factors to consider in determining watering. Mulching holds moisture and cools in the summer, and insulates in the winter. Hardiness: (already stated above) Cold Hardy to 10 to 0 degrees, (Zone 7) Flowering (already stated above) Double white blooms in early summer Exposure: Partial Shade for best performance Watering: (already stated above) Average size: 2 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Fertilizing: Feed early spring and early fall with an all-purpose fertilizer. ---------------------------------------------------------- Apparently this is a small company that breeds winter hardy plants for this region, located here in Oklahoma. That is why the Farm Center buys some of their plants from them. From plant descriptions, it sounds like their plants are guaranteed hardy for Zones 6b to 9. Check out their other plants. I love their daylilies, and their 'Twist of Lime Abelia' and the 'Crystal Falls Mondo Grass', especially. Once again, sorry for my misstated facts about this plant. Some of the flower buds began opening today and they smell so wonderful! ~Annie Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Debut

I've grown gardenias in the DC area for several years. II started with a few from nurseries in the early 2000s. After some mistakes with overwatering in summer and freezing in winter I finally got the hang of it and have only lost two plants since 2008. I have four which are thriving, one is three feet by two feet by two feet in a large windowbox. The key here unless you have a VERY sunny window in winter is to overwinter them in very cool conditions. I keep mine in my unheated garage. They will tolerate long periods of darkness when cold (30-45F) and if it's warmer than that they can go outside. About a quarter of the winter days here are warm enough to leave them out. Temperatures below 25F damage the flower buds and newer growth. Conversely in summer I give them 4-6 hours of sun, preferably morning sun. In spring and fall they get full sun. WIth this regimen, I get small flower buds in November. THese overwinter and start growing in April. Around Memorial day I get flowers and they bloom until about July 4. After that they start dropping buds and generally don't do as well in midummer heat. (low 90s days, mid 70s nights). From mid July to sometime in late August they don't seem to make buds and just grow leaves but after that they make buds again. Late August buds start blooming in early October and I just got my first three today. Cool weather from mid November on seems to slow the big buds enough that they just die on the plant, very slowly. Small buds do okay. I never let them dry out but don't keep the soil sodden either. Their pot will keep them moist for two sunny dry days so I try to keep it on the dry side when I am not on vacation or otherwise gone and water it to half capacity. Overwatering in summer is lethal. I use pro-mix for potting soil although I am not happy with it for long term (years) use. Every few years I cut them back hard to main branches. There is a second type I have found in my neighbor's yard. THis has 5" typically fragrant flowers in June (fall flowering is not as good as the florist types) and is fully hardy here in Zone 7. It is at least 20 years old, has 6" trunks and is obviously thriving. It gets full midday sun. I just got cuttings (with permission) this summer; they've rooted and I'll see how they do. He does not know the origin of the plant but the local Home Depot sells a very similar one which is said to be hardy. I've never tried it. The point here is that like the Spokane WA poster earlier, gardenias will tolerate a lot of chilling and light freezes. They do not like the combination of warm, dry, stagnant and dark that they get in a typical house in winter.

Mersipoo, I was going to tell you to kick your Gardenias, butt??? Oh boy.. What the heck happened? Okay, girl, let's get down to serious business!!!! First, what's the temps in z6? If it's doesn't drop below 45F, set outside..if possible, place in a spot you can reach in case temps dip too low..semi-shady location. Fresh air, away from the heater, will do a world of good..new leaves will grow in. A few times during winter months, my 'denia lost leaves, lots of leaves, but after being outside, new growth filled it up. Your gardenia is definatly alive..look at the stems..GREEN.. Do you have a room in the house that doesn't have a heater? Even an east window will work? BTW, is your denia in a clay pot? Please don't think I'm telling you what to do, Mersi, I'm certainly NO expert, so mind if I give you a little advice. Like I said, your denia's alive..You have two choices, either prune, or be patient, and allow new leaves to form..I'd do the latter. You need to find a space w/o the heater..what type of heater is it? Many of you might jump on me, but I'm NO fan of Logees..I used to adore their plants. Around 1999, something changed...aside from potting in 2 1/4" pots, they used to be 4", prices hiked up and shipping's outrageous. There are sellers on Ebay that offering healthy tree-shaped fairly large gardenias..Most around 24.99 plus shipping. If possible, shower once a wk, and mist daily..Purchase a humidifer..I can't breath w/o a humidifer, and plants hate dry air. Since you've changed fertilizers, add Superthrive too..I love the stuff, it really perks up plants..healthy and stressed. I use 4 drops per gallon of water for healthy plants, stressed plants, or difficult growing, 10 drops per gallon. If you go to their site, www.superthrive.com for .60 they'll send a sample size bottle..I buy ST on Ebay..4oz bottle for 9.99..it lasts about a year, Mersi, I have over 300 house plants.. Again, please don't think I'm telling you what to do..I'm not..But for the first time, in well, 30 yrs of growing plants, (darn, now u guys know my age) I've had my 'denia since the mid-90's..that's after killing one after another..I also discovered buying a tree instead of a gift plant in 4-6" pots are much easier adapting..so, instead of buying plant after plant, (small plants) for 8.99 and up, it's well-worth paying 20 something dollars for a tree, in the long run.. I've heard of Algoflash, but never used it..Is it high in Nitrogen? What percentage? Use a fert high in Nit to help aid leaf growth. Alternate with an acidic fertilizer throughout growing season, stop feeding after Sept/Oct. I too use sand in my mix, but only Builder's Sand from Home Depot..it contains large chunks..Beach or fine sand holds too much water.. Your soil looks dry..very dry..although I allow soil to dry out, lack of water for days on end will cause leaves to yellow and drop. The same happens if overwatered. Mersi, I KNOW your tree will make it..give it time..take outside. (if possible) keep away from the heater. Let soil dry but give a hearty drink when it's thirsty. Add Superthrive once a month. Mist/shower..I wish you luck, girl..and for the record, I do NOT consider myself an expert..theres a lot to learn..I'm only trying to help, okay? hugs, Toni

I don't know which gardenias you have, but I would not put mine in full sun even though I am much further north than you are. I wonder if they got stressed. Mine did survive the 5 degree temps, but again I might have different ones (I have the dwarf ones) and mine are well established.