Gardenia Vs. Camellia: What Are The Major Differences?

When cultivating and caring for your garden, it can sometimes seem overwhelming. Every flower, every plant you choose needs different things to thrive. Shade, sun, soil, and how frequently you water are all things to consider when creating a backyard oasis. Perennials are a great way to fill your garden with color and beauty.

Some of the most popular perennials for a lush and colorful garden are camellias and gardenias. Often referred to as companion blooms in the gardening world, these flowers will brighten any outdoor space. While they have a lot of similarities, gardenias and camellias are actually wildly different flowers.

Gardenias and Camellias have many differences from their watering and sunshine needs to their bloom times throughout the year. Gardenias are most commonly only white while camellias have a vast variety of colors. Gardenias are hardier and require less upkeep. Even their sizes, scents, and shapes are different.

If you’re an avid gardener or looking to cultivate your green thumb, it’s best to understand the differences between these two perennials as well as what it takes to care for them. Read on to find out what the major differences are between gardenias and camellias!

Perhaps the most obvious difference is the shape of the flowers themselves. With their pure white, tennis ball sized blooms, gardenias are a favorite among horticulturists. Offset by large, waxy green leaves, this fragrant flower usually has deep layers of petals that grow in a spiral pattern, hiding the yellow stamens.

Camellias, on the other hand, have an array of visually arresting yellow stamens in their center. As a camellia opens, these tall stamens become the focal point of the flower, contrasting beautifully with the bright color of a camellia. Where gardenia petals rarely exceed ten in number, camellias are double-flowered. They have many more petals than the gardenia, giving the flower a fuller appearance.

Gardenias are the heartier flower of the two. Feel free to plant your gardenias in the full sun— it needs 10-12 hours of direct sunlight with just a little bit of shade. Make sure that when late afternoon comes, your blooms will have a little reprieve from all that sunshine.

Camellias are a little more high maintenance. No matter where you live or what the weather is like, the camellia plant needs partial sun. No more than 8 hours in the sun and no less than 4. Camellias also require frequent watering whereas gardenias can tolerate times of drought a little better.

If you’re someone just beginning to cultivate that green thumb, you might want to start out with the sturdier gardenia. Because it needs to be watered less often and can withstand full sun a little better, this one might be a little harder to kill.

If however you have a little experience, or simply want a larger challenge, the Camellia yields great rewards for the right gardener. It’s not incredibly fragile to grow and with its variety of colors, it will definitely add enjoyment and variety to any garden landscape.

If you’re really adventurous, give them both a try. Both are beautiful and will make your garden the talk of the town.

While the gardenia and camellia are fairly similar, there are some differences in their sizes. Both are shrubby plants, but the camellia will grow taller than the gardenia. The gardenia ranges on the smaller side and will always be as tall as it is wide. This means you’ll have a low, ball-shaped bush of white blossoms. Rarely do gardenia shrubs grow taller than 6 feet.

The camellia can easily grow taller than 12 feet, surpassing the gardenia by a good margin. They need more room to grow, so when planning your garden you’ll want to keep this in mind. Less compact than the gardenia bush, a camellia shrub is either oval-shaped or a tall tree-like plant.

Of these two plants, gardenias are the more fragrant flower. In fact, gardenias will often shift scents throughout the day! Mid to late morning will have your gardenias smelling soft and creamy, with almost peachy undertones. The evening scent of a gardenia is more robust. Evening Gardenias are zesty and a little spicy.

Camellias don’t have a smell. Depending on the type of gardener you are, this can either be a pro or a con. The prettier a camellia cultivar, the less likely it is to have an overall scent. Camellias that lack a desirable shape, color, and size are usually the ones that have a smell, which leans toward the lemony and light.

If you are looking for a fragrant flower to add that special ambiance to your garden, Camellias are not for you, but gardenias could be just the ticket! Take a look at these 37 different types of lotus flowers.

Related Questions

Are Gardenias Difficult To Grow?

Gardenias are actually fairly easy to grow, though they do require a bit of attention. Make sure your soil is moist and well-drained, and be sure to give your plant plenty of sun.

Are Camellias Dog Friendly?

If you have a pampered pooch romping through your backyard, you won’t have to worry about camellias being poisonous. Gardenias, though, are toxic to dogs. While most dogs won’t be naturally attracted to gardenias as a food source, you may want to take precautions and fence them off or keep them in higher planter boxes.

How Long Does A Gardenia Bloom?

Gardenia blooms can sustain for several weeks at a time.  They generally bloom from late spring all the way through fall and are considered hardy flowers in most all circumstances.

Should I Deadhead A Gardenia Plant?

Deadheading spent gardenia blooms is important to the continued health and blooming of the plant throughout its blooming and growing season.  Once the bloomed flower wilts, simply prune the branch down to give room and nutrients to the other part of the plant.

Should I Deadhead A Camellia Plant?

Yes!  Deadheading the Camelia after the flower wilts is very important to the remaining growing season blooms.  You can use your hands to prune the dead blooms by twisting and snapping away the unwanted pieces making way for new beautiful blooms to take their place.