Gardenias.The first time I saw a gardenia I was shocked: the fleshy bright green leaves, the delicates pure white flowers, and their sweet deep scent... astonished me. It's so perfect that looks like a design plant.
gardenias grow in Spain!??? were they in a greenhouse or something? Mine are about to bust out in blooms, probably a few more weeks and it will be heaven. This is going to be a good year for gardenias, for whatever reason. My bushes are loaded with flower buds.
Well, I keep mine indoors, in the living room beside a large window, because I'm living in a flat. Althoug I know for sure that, as I'm living at a coastal city, where temperatures never fall under zero, it would grow well outdoors. As it would do in all the coastal territories of Spain, both the mediterranean and the atlantic sea. Gardenias resists till 5 or 7 degress below zero, it doesn't matter if it frosts a little.
it's not just about temperature, they need really high humidity levels. They need cool nights in the early spring to set bloom, too. And they need acidic soil. Temps here sometimes, but very rarely, drop below freezing, but as long as the ground does not freeze too deep, the gardenias are fine. I wonder if the "suicidal gardenia" thread is still going strong at gardenweb.com it was hilarious! haha they made it a FAQ http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/calif/2004035908004767.html
For me it's daisies, coneflowers & brown eyed susans. They grow like weeds and I've yet to kill any of them. Simple red clover is another favorite... why do people kill it when it comes up in their grass??? I also really like forsythia and all sorts of ornamental grasses. I like plants that feel neat to the touch or make a pretty sound when the wind blows across them. love, mom
Magnolia flowers are my favorite. Sunflower, Pansies and Marigolds are my other favorites. Sunflowers and Marigolds are nice to me since they make seeds as they grow.
Thanks. I knew about the humidity. Santander is a very humid city for good or for bad but, as I keep it indoors, I usually atomize it every two days. I did not know about the cool temperatures in the early spring but I suppose it had enough cool as it is blossoming quite good. They main difficulty for me is about light, they need bright light but not direct sun exposure, especially during the central hours of the day. Fortunately I have in my flat a proper window. Thanks for the suicidal garnenia thread is quite interesting and funny. Certainly the growing of this plant is a tough issue, but if you can manage it deserves the cares.