How to Grow Sweet Tea Gardenia - Plant Care & Tips

By NorwichGardener Team   /   2025

Sweet tea gardenia is a plant that belongs to the family Rubiaceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The plant is named after the Greek island of Gardenia. The sweet tea gardenia is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 10 m tall. The leaves are dark green and glossy, and the flowers are white and fragrant. The sweet tea gardenia is cultivated for its flowers, which are used in perfumes and as a decoration.

How to Grow Sweet Tea Gardenia - Plant Care & Tips

Also called

  • Gardenia jasminoides
  • Cape jasmine
  • Jasminum officinale
  • Jasmine
  • Tea olive

Basic info

  • Sweet tea gardenias are a variety of gardenia that is native to China.
  • Sweet tea gardenias have a sweet, slightly floral flavor.
  • The flowers of sweet tea gardenias are used to make a sweet tea infusion.
  • Sweet tea gardenias are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
  • Sweet tea gardenias are easy to grow and care for.
  • Sweet tea gardenias require full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
  • Sweet tea gardenias should be watered regularly, but allowed to dry out between watering.
  • Fertilize sweet tea gardenias every six weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
  • Sweet tea gardenias can be affected by aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies.
  • Sweet tea gardenias are best propagated by stem cuttings.

Related plant:
Sweet Almond Bush

Planting Process

  1. For sweet tea gardenia, first step is to start with rich, well-drained soil.
  2. Add some organic matter to the soil to help retain moisture.
  3. Gardenias prefer full sun to partial shade, so choose a spot in your yard that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
  4. Water your gardenia regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.
  5. Fertilize your gardenia every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
  6. To encourage blooming, deadhead spent flowers as they fade.
  7. Protect your gardenia from frost in winter by covering it with a frost blanket or burlap.
  8. Prune your gardenia as needed to shape it and promote new growth.
  9. If pests become a problem, treat them with an organic pesticide.
  10. Enjoy the beautiful flowers your sweet tea gardenia produces!

Related plant:
Sweet Shrub Bush

Considering the Soil

About soil condition, the Sweet Tea Gardenia needs well-drained, acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0. If your soil is not naturally acidic, you can lower the pH by adding sulfur. The plant also prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade.

Light condition

Similar to other types of gardenias, sweet tea gardenias require plenty of sunlight to thrive. Without at least six hours of sun per day, these plants will likely become leggy and produce fewer flowers. If you live in an area with very hot summers, it's best to plant sweet tea gardenias in a spot that gets some afternoon shade.

The Temperature

The temperature condition of sweet tea gardenia is average. It is not too cold or too hot. The leaves and flowers are beautiful and fragrant. The plant grows in full sun and partial shade. It is a good plant for containers or gardens.

Humidity Aspect

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50-70%. This plant cannot tolerate high humidity or cold drafts. If the humidity is too high, the leaves will turn yellow and drop off. If the humidity is too low, the leaves will become dry and brown.

Fertilizing

About fertilizer, this family of plant nutrients is important for plant growth and health. For example, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are key macronutrients that tea gardenias need for good growth. Nitrogen is responsible for foliage growth, phosphorus for flowers and fruit, and potassium for overall plant health. Also important are micronutrients like iron, magnesium, and calcium. A good fertilizer will have a mix of all these nutrients in the right proportions for optimal plant health. When it comes to root health, gardenias need well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. They also benefit from regular applications of compost or other organic matter. This helps to keep the roots healthy and the plants well-nourished. Gardenias are also susceptible to root rot, so it's important to make sure they are not overwatered. If you live in an area with high humidity, you may need to water your gardenias more often to prevent this problem.

Plant Pruning

Pruning is a critical part of keeping your sweet tea gardenia healthy and looking its best. While it may seem like a daunting task, pruning is actually quite easy and only requires a few simple tools. First, you'll need a sharp pair of pruning shears. Next, you'll need to identify the areas of the plant that need to be pruned. Once you've done that, you'll simply need to cut away any excess growth. Pruning your sweet tea gardenia on a regular basis will ensure that it stays healthy and looks its best. So, don't be afraid to get out there and give it a try!

The Propagation

Propagation is the process of creating new plants from a variety of sources, including seeds, bulbs, and cuttings. Sweet tea gardenias can be propagated from seed, but the resulting plants may not be true to the parent plant. Gardenias can also be propagated from softwood cuttings taken from the tips of new growth. The cuttings should be about 4 inches long and should be taken from the plant in late spring or early summer.

Growth Rate

Usually, the plant growth rate is considered slow to moderate. Some plants may only grow a few inches a year, while others may grow a foot or more. The amount of growth also depends on the variety of sweet tea gardenia and the growing conditions.

Basic Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant plants are scale, whitefly, and mealybugs. These pests can be controlled with treatments of horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. If the plant is heavily infested, it may need to be treated with a systemic insecticide. Gardenias are also susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis blight. These can be controlled with fungicide treatments.

Tips on Growing

  • Make sure to plant sweet tea gardenia in an area that receives full sun.
  • It is important to well-drain the soil before planting.
  • Add some organic matter to the soil to help with drainage.
  • When planting, make sure to space the plants at least 3 feet apart.
  • Water the plants regularly, making sure the soil is always moist but not soggy.
  • Apply a fertilizer made for acid-loving plants every few weeks.
  • Once the plants are established, prune them back to encourage new growth.
  • In late spring, the plants will produce white flowers that have a sweet tea fragrance.
  • To harvest the leaves, cut them back to 2-3 inches above the ground.
  • Sweet tea gardenia can be used to make a delicious herbal tea.

Substitution

  • Sweet tea plant
  • Sweet tea leaves
  • Sweet tea oil
  • Sweet tea benefits
  • Sweet tea iced tea
  • Sweet tea tree
  • Sweet tea plants for sale
  • Sweet tea recipe
  • Sweet tea restaurant
  • Sweet tea lyrics

Source:
Gardenia: A Gardener’s Challenge - Purdue University
Gardenia Diseases & Other Problems - Clemson University
Gardenia jasminoides - North Carolina State University

Richelle Author Photo
Reviewed & Published by Richelle
Submitted by our contributor
Herbs Category