Enjoy the unforgettable fragrance and elegant white blooms of Gardenia ‘Big Beauty’ right here in Illinois by growing it as a container annual. This large-flowered gardenia produces showy, creamy white blooms with intense fragrance throughout the summer, making it a standout on patios, porches, and near entryways.
While gardenias are evergreen shrubs in warmer climates, ‘Big Beauty’ thrives beautifully in containers here when treated as a tender annual and brought indoors for the winter.
🌼 Why You’ll Love It
Large, intensely fragrant white flowers
Classic glossy green evergreen foliage
Perfect for patios, porches, and outdoor living spaces
Excellent container plant for northern gardeners
Can be overwintered indoors and enjoyed for years
🌿 Plant Details
Grown For: Flowers & fragrance
Flower Color: White
Foliage: Glossy green, evergreen
Habit: Upright, shrubby
Light Requirement: Morning sun, afternoon shade
Soil: Acidic, moist, well-drained
Water Needs: Average to consistent moisture
Maintenance: Moderate
Hardiness Zones: 7–11 (grown as an annual or container plant in colder zones)
📏 Size
Height: 3–4 ft (in containers)
Width/Spread: 3–4 ft
🪴 Uses
Containers and decorative pots
Patios and porches
Entryways for fragrance
Indoor overwintering specimen
❄️ Overwintering Tip
Bring containers indoors before the first hard frost. Place in a bright, cool location (around 60°F), away from cold drafts. Keep soil evenly moist and maintain moderate humidity through winter.
🌱 Care Tips
Fertilize with an acid-loving plant fertilizer (azalea/camellia type) in early spring and midsummer
Lightly prune after flowering, avoiding late fall pruning
Monitor for aphids, whiteflies, or spider mites when overwintering indoors