Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Monday - May 29, 2006
From: Ocala, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Height of non-native gardenias
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
How tall does a gardenia tree get?ANSWER:
I assume you mean the Common gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides). It is a native of China and Japan introduced to North America as an ornamental. Its maximum height is 5-6 feet. It has a dwarf cultivar that reaches only 2-3 feet. There are also African Gardenia trees such as Gardenia thunbergia that reaches 16 feet and Gardenia volkensii, 26 feet. Hawaii has an endangered Gardenia (Gardenia brighamii), 20 feet, as well as several other species of Gardenia. In fact, there are some 250 species of Gardenia from Africa, Asia, Australasia and Oceania. There are no North American native Gardenias.More Non-Natives Questions
Japanese Wineberry in Maryland
July 16, 2014 - Hello, we were at Cunningham Falls in Maryland and I can not identify this plant. If you could I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. It looks like a raspberry but the berries are inside small leav...
view the full question and answer
Growing non-native lettuce under artificial light from Washington NY
April 15, 2012 - Which artificial light( UV LIGHT, FLUORESCENT LIGHT AND INCANDESCENT LIGHT) makes a lettuce plant grow the fastest over a time period of 3 weeks and what would be your variables( independent, dependen...
view the full question and answer
Propagation of non-native, poisonous oleanders
November 11, 2005 - How do I propagate oleanders? Can the cuttings be rooted in water? Or is it better to use rooting hormone and stick the cuttings in the soil?
view the full question and answer
Yellowing branches on non-native sago palms after freeze in Rusk TX
January 30, 2010 - My Sago Palms experienced a good freeze. Now they have a multitude of yellowing branches, in fact most of the plant is yellow. Please advise what to do to save my plants. They are about nine years ...
view the full question and answer
Advocacy of non-native plants.
December 10, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Instead of asking a question, I would like to comment on the seemingly discouraging tone on growing plants or trees out of their native habitat that I have observed from rea...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |