The Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia, otherwise known as the Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ or Cape Jasmine ‘Kleim’s Hardy’, Kleim’s Hardy Cape Jasmine, Cape Jessamine ‘Kleim’s Hardy’, is a rather well known shrub plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its high maintenance and slow growth, this shrub will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its green colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
This is why all the topics you need to know in order to achieve this will be covered in this Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia Care Guide. Ready? Let’s go!
The fundamental caring guidelines for every Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia can be summed up into the following:
- Water: The Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
- Light: Keep your Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia in soil with moist but well-draining properties, so ideally, one that is made of sand, loam, and clay.
That’s it – sunlight, water and soil! The basic 3 fundamentals for all plant care, and with the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia this is no exception. With these three elements, your leafy friend will live healthy and happy.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia belongs to the Rubiaceae family, the genus Gardenia and the species Jasminoides, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ (gar-DEEN-ee-uh jas-min-NOY-deez).
As with other Gardenia’s, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is an evergreen plant, which means it will be present year round in your garden.
Growing Region
Knowing your plant’s native region is very useful, as it can give you tips on which environment is best for your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia. If you keep it in mind, you can try to replicate these conditions at home, and you’ll likely end with a healthier plant.
With this in mind, the Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ will be most used to the heat zones in the 7 – 12 region, as the plant hardiness level falls between 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a and the ideal climate zone is between 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is a relatively slow grower, which makes things easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But what exactly does this mean for your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia? How large a pot should you consider, how tall, how wide can it get? Let’s jump in…
The Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ can grow up to 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm) in 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm) and 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm) in 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm).
These dimensions make the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia a relatively medium shrub compared to others, so it’s best to keep this fact in mind since it will affect where you want to keep yours at home.
This is why experts recommend keeping an area of approximately 36″ (90cm) free so the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia can spread to its best extent.
Water
In terms of watering, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is a fairly simple plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a straightforward watering schedule and somewhat regular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia in soil with moist but well-draining characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
When you consider this, this is why you should aim to choose soil that has good drainage, and moist properties to keep the right moisture levels at all times.
However, in our experience, the best solution to knowing the right amount of water for your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is with the ‘thumb’ technique. Basically, you insert your finger into the soil, and based if you feel the soil moist or dry, you determine if it needs any water, which is the most appropriate way to go about watering your leafy friend.
Soil Mix
As mentioned earlier, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia prefers to have soil with good drainage, and moist properties at all times, reason why you need to make the soil mix out of sand, loam, and clay.
This is why most experts agree that the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia requires soil with clay, high organic matter, loam (silt), and sand, which will give you the right conditions it needs.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably neutral to acid soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia requires partial to full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this shrub will do well as long as you keep it in partial to full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ in little to partial shade (only 2-6 hours of direct sunlight a day), to full and direct sun (more 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being an evergreen plant, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia will be present year round in your garden.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (late), and during the summer (early, mid, late).
Flowers
You can expect your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia to flower around the spring and in the summer months from April to June (spring), and from July to September (summer).
In particular, this shrub is well known for its fragrant, flowers for cutting and showy flowers around the plant enthusiast community.
The Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia produces some beautiful white, or gold/yellow and white flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia have a beautiful green color during most of the year.
In particular, they have a simple arrangement with a opposite and whorled organization in its leaves.
Attracts, Tolerance and Resistance
The Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is well known for its tolerance to animals like deer, so don’t worry if any of these come along, your Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ will be fine.
Garden
Now, let’s talk garden and how your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia will look best in it.
Most Gardenia Jasminoides ‘Kleim’S Hardy’ owners agree that this shrub will look great in most cottage, asian/zen and tropical gardens of all types.
In particular, the Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia’s best location within your garden is in patio and containers, beds and borders, and in small gardens, others use it for landscaping in a urban garden, mass planting, container, border, cutting garden, hedge, or a woodland garden.
Companion Plants
Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia’s do well with some other plants beside it. One good companion plant is the Hydrangea, which will pair up nicely with your leafy friend.
Others consider that a nice Agapanthus will work well too, so choose whichever you find works best for you!
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
