When looking for a new plant to add to your garden, you might find yourself puzzled by the difference between gardenia and jasmine. They may look similar but they have quite different features which will determine how well they thrive in your garden.
There are differences in life expectancy, size, scent, flowers, fruits, and look between jasmine and gardenia. They have more distinguishing features for instance differences in lighting, growing zones, and benefits.
To enable you to make an easy decision, I have researched and listed the most important characteristics of the plants and compared them.
Gardenia vs jasmine
Gardenias and Jasmines are both great-smelling plants that make a wonderful addition to any home. While these two plants may look very similar at first glance, it is important to know the difference between jasmine and gardenia to choose which plant is right for you!
Jasmines are usually bigger plants, while gardenia tends to be smaller. Jasmines can grow as wide as 15 feet, Gardenia on the other hand can only grow about 10 feet wide. Their height, which may vary between different types can reach up to 20 feet.
Gardenia stems mostly look like a small tree, brown and a bit rough, they are also not bendable. On the contrary, jasmine stems are known for bendability and their greenish and shiny appearance.
The colors of both of these plants are truly amazing. The flowers can range from a clear white to a bright yellow.
Some varieties of jasmine also have pink-hued flowers which can be a subtle but beautiful addition to you garden.
Jasmine flowers own a sweet, floral top scent that can vary between species. Its characteristic rich scent is joined with subliminal woody musk for the extra layer of complexity. This creates the perfect balance between freshness and sensuality.
Gardenias have a strong rich scent. You’ll experience a zesty and almost spicy smell with green undertones when strolling through a gardenia-filled garden. Sometimes, the gardenia blossom has a creamy scent that could be compared to coconut and even peach.
Although both come from plants in the same family, gardenia and jasmine leaves look very different. While the leaves of gardenia look glossy and only exist in green color, the leaves of jasmine leaves look smooth and can not only be found in green colors but also lavender or purple.
Another difference you can spot within the moment they’re producing fruit.
Gardenia fruits look orange and are edible, as well they are used in different meals in Korea.
The jasmine fruit looks black/purple and sometimes brownish when ripe and should not be eaten. Jasmines rarely produce fruit so you will not see it often.
As you might see now, it can important to know the difference between gardenia and jasmine. So make sure you know which advantages and features come with both of them.
The differences when growing jasmine and gardenia plants
The gardenia plant is available as a houseplant or shrub. Jasmine in comparison is available as a houseplant and a shrub but also as a vine depending on the chosen species.
Gardenias can thrive in partial sun or shade while jasmine is growing well in partial sun and full sun. Jasmine plants will do best when planted near the south side of your home where they’ll get maximum exposure to the sun. Gardenias need a shadier place so the east or west side of your garden will be suiting well.
Interesting Facts: Gardenia plants represent the elegance and charm of feminine beauty. Jasmine stands for purity, innocence, and also luck.
While Jasmine likes acidic to neutral soil, gardenia prefers only acidic soil. The soil for both should be well-draining and moist. The only difference is, that jasmine thrives well in different textures like clay and loamy soil, while gardenia only thrives in loamy soil.
The growing zones of gardenia and jasmine overlap within the climate zones 8, 9, and 10. Jasmine is also able to thrive in zones 6 and 7 and tolerates those temperatures well.
Some Jasmine varieties have a reputation for blooming all year long when treated right. Gardenia on the other can bloom from spring to late fall.
With the right type of care, jasmine can live up to 15 years and gardenia even up to 50 years!
Specific differences of gardenia and jasmine plants
Jasmine is an important part of the natural world because it attracts bees who help pollinate crops as well as other beneficial insects like butterflies that can help with pollination in your garden!
On the other hand, gardenia is in no way inferior to jasmine because they also attract bees and pollinators. Not only that gardenia flowers also attract songbirds and improve your garden by adding awesome melodies.
In terms of resistance, jasmine is pretty strong against salt while gardenias thrive well despite the drought.
If you are an animal owner you should be really careful if you think of getting Jasmine because it can be poisonous for some animals like cats and dogs.
On the other hand, more than a couple of people are allergic to gardenia.
So before you get one of these flowers for yourself make sure that you check first if there isn’t somebody in your family, human or animal, who can have an unpleasant reaction after being exposed to it.
If this is not a problem then congratulations! You’ve just found out about two of the most beautiful flowers.
Final thoughts
Gardenias are smaller in wide and come along with white and yellow flowers adding a light floral and sweet scent.
In opposite jasmines can grow bigger in wide and have not only white or yellow flowers but also pink ones with a strong floral and woody scent.
Gardenia fruits are edible when ripe which looks orange, while jasmine fruit looks black/purple when ripe and it should not be consumed. In contrast to gardenia, jasmine can not only be grown as a houseplant, or shrub, it is also available as a vine.
Jasmine thrives in lighting conditions like partial sun and sun while gardenias do best when planted in an area with shade or partial sun.
Jasmine and gardenia are beautiful flowers that attract bees, pollinators, birds, and people. Finally, jasmine can be poisonous to pets like cats or dogs but there is a human allergy risk with gardenia as well.
So if you want these plants in your garden make sure you check first before choosing one! If everything goes according to plan then congratulations because now you know about the differences between jasmine and gardenia!
