How Does the Gardenia Reproduce?

Gardenia flowers typically grow on the ends of branches.

Gardenia flowers typically grow on the ends of branches.

Also called cape jasmine, gardenias are evergreen perennial shrubs that produce large white blooms throughout the summer. These plants prefer moist, well-drained soil and they may not thrive in soil with a pH above 6.0. Gardenias are angiosperms, or flowering plants, which possess both male and female reproductive organs. Under the right conditions, gardenias self-pollinate and produce green fruits which contain the gardenia seeds to be scattered for reproduction.

Reproductive Organs

Because gardenias are angiosperms and self-pollinating plants, the flowers possess both male and female reproductive organs. The female reproductive organs are called carpels which join together to form a pistil. The pistil contains the ovules, or eggs, of the gardenia plant as well as the stigma and the style, the tube down which sperm travels to fertilize the ovules. The male reproductive organs of the gardenia plant are called stamens and they are made up of two parts -- the anther and the filament. Pollen, or sperm, is produced by the anther which is supported by the stem-like filament.

Sexual Reproduction

The reproductive process of gardenia plants is quite simple -- the anther produces pollen, or sperm, which is transferred to the stigma, the portion of the pistil designed to capture pollen. The pollen then travels down the style, the long tube leading down through the pistil, to the ovaries where the ovules are stored. Once fertilization occurs, the ovules will develop into seeds and the plant will begin to produce fruit.

Seed Growth

After the ovules have been fertilized and they begin to develop into seeds, the petals on the gardenia flower will begin to drop off. At this point, the ovary containing the fertilized seeds will begin to swell and develop into a round green fruit about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Inside the fruit, the seeds are generally yellow and less than 1/4 inch long. If the seeds are removed from the fruit and deposited in the ground, either by animals or humans, they will germinate and produce new gardenia plants. Gardenias are a fairly slow-growing plant so new plants typically do not flower until they reach three years of age.

Propagation by Cuttings

In addition to natural reproduction, gardenias can also be propagated by using cuttings. Ideally, cuttings should be about 5 inches long, taken from the green wood at the end of a branch. To prepare the cutting, remove all the lower leaves and dip the cut end of the branch into a rooting hormone. Gardenia cuttings are best planted in pots filled with equal parts dampened potting soil and sand. To ensure proper growth, gardenia cuttings should be kept in a warm area (around 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in indirect light. If the soil is kept moist, the cutting should root after four to eight weeks.

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