|  | ||||
| Description A small tree up to 15 feet in the wild, Gardenia brighamii is generally not as tall in cultivation. The leaves are glossy green, 1 to 4 inches long and about half as wide. Young leaves often feel sticky. When not under cultivation, Gardenia brighamii have leaves only on the ends of the branches. In the garden, however, plants retain their foliage for much longer and are much fuller in appearance. Plants are long-lived in their natural habitat; one specimen has been documented for over 65 years. They are known to live for at least 15 years under cultivation. The solitary white flowers occur at the ends of the branches. The flowers are tubular with 6 or 7 lobes, up to 1 inch long and have a fragrance similar to the common gardenia (Gardenia augustus). The flowers open in the late afternoon and last about a day. (Koob 1999; Mehrhoff 1993; Wagner 1990) | |||||
| Habitat and Geographic Range Gardenia brighamii is an endangered endemic species. It is a dry forest species that is thought to have once existed on all the main islands at elevations from 1100 to 1700 feet. Currently, only 15 to 19 individual plants are known to exist on Hawai'i, Lana'i, Maui, Moloka'i, and O'ahu. (Koob 1999; Wagner 1990) | |||||
| Propagation by Seeds Cultivated specimens of Gardenia brighamii flower more or less continuously. Wild populations on various island have different flowering and fruiting seasons. On O'ahu and Hawai'i, Gardenia brighamii blooms in the fall and winter, from October through December. The Maui, Moloka'i, and Lana'i populations bloom mostly in the spring, from March through May, with some additional flowering in December and July. John Obata has speculated that flowering may be triggered by rainfall. Gardenia brighamii is self-compatible and viable seed is produced by self-pollination. The 1 to 1 1/2 inch oval to round fruit of Gardenia brighamii is green with whitish spots at maturity. The fruit inside is pale yellow containing straw-colored seeds less than 1/4 inch long. The seeds are difficult to remove from the fruit pulp. Stratton et al recommend ripening the seeds in a plastic bag. This softens the pulp making the seeds easier to clean. After ripening, the fruit flesh can be removed by either placing the fruits in a colander or strainer under running water or breaking up the fruit by hand in a bowl of water. Best germination is obtained with fresh seeds. Koob recommends soaking the seeds overnight in water. Stratton's informants suggest 1 hour in tap water. Plant only the seeds that sink. Soaked seeds may germinate in about 4 to 5 weeks up to 3 months. Lilleeng-Rosenberger documents germination percentages ranging from 42% to 85% for soaked seed. Seeds should be sown in a well drained mix such as 3 parts #2 perlite to 1 part Sunshine Mix #4. Lilleeng-Rosenberger's notes indicate that the seeds were sown on the surface of the moistened medium. Keep the medium moist until germination. The containers should be placed in a covered shaded area to control soil moisture and reduce damage from rain. Plants are flowering size in 3 years. The germination rate is greatly reduced when the seeds are stored. If seeds must be stored, cleaned seeds should be air dried. They should be stored in a paper bag or envelope inside a airtight container with desiccant and kept in a cool place at about 25% relative humidity. (Koob 1999; Lilleeng-Rosenberger 1996; Mehrhoff 1993; Stratton 1998; Wagner 1990) | |||||
| Propagation by Cuttings Gardenia brighamii can be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings. Cuttings from actively growing plants will root the most quickly. Best rooting is obtained using a medium strength rooting hormone (e.g. 0.1% IBA and 0.05% NAA) (Koob, email) and either a mist system or a humidity chamber. Rooting takes place in 1 to 6 months. (Koob 1999) | |||||
| Propagation by Division Not applicable. | |||||
| Propagation by Air Layers Gardenia brighamii has been propagated by air layers by U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel on Maui. (Mehrhoff 1993) | |||||
| Propagation by Grafting Gardenia brighamii can be propagated by grafting. (Stratton 1998) | |||||
| Propagation by Tissue Culture No information located to date. | |||||
| References Koob, Gregory A. 1999. A Hawaiian gardenia. Hawai'i Horticulture 2 (1):10-12. Koob, Gregory A. "Rooting Hormone Question." Personal email. Posted 28 January 1999. Lilleeng-Rosenberger, Kerin. 1996. Plant propagation notebook. Unpublished materials: National Tropical Botanical Garden. Mehrhoff, Loyal. 1993. Recovery plan for the Hawaiian gardenia. Portland, Oregon: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Stratton, Lisa, Leslie Hudson, Nova Suenaga, and Barrie Morgan. 1998. Overview of Hawaiian dry forest propagation techniques. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Botanical Society 37 (2):13, 15-27. Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. 2 vols., Bishop Museum Special Publication 83. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. p. 1132-1133. | |||||
FAQs
How tall do Gardenia brighamii get? ›
Gardenia brighamii is a small tree up to 6 m (20 ft) in height. Trunks are up to 30.5 cm (12 in) in diameter and somewhat smooth. The shiny, dark green leaves are oval-shaped and measure from 2.2 to 10.5 cm (1 to 4 in) long and 1.5 to 5.5 cm (0.5 to 2 in) wide. The solitary flowers are white and very fragrant.
How do you care for a Gardenia brighamii? ›Use a balanced slow release fertilize with minor elements every six months. Foliar feed monthly with kelp or fish emulsion, or a water-soluble fertilizer with a dilution of one half to one third of recommended strength. Prune off dead twigs and branches as needed for a desired landscape appearance.
How do you take care of a Nanu plant? ›Keep the medium moist until germination. The containers should be placed in a covered shaded area to control soil moisture and reduce damage from rain. Plants are flowering size in 3 years.
What is Nanu in Hawaiian? ›Nau (na'u), n. 1. A species of gardenia (Gardenia brighamii). Also called nanu.
Do gardenias like full sun or shade? ›Gardenias perform best when they receive intense morning light and shade from the hot afternoon sun. Sun exposure is necessary for proper flower bud development – with too little sun plants will produce leggy growth and few flowers. On the other hand, too much sun can cause blooms to fade quickly.
What is the lifespan of a gardenia bush? ›With proper care, a gardenia bush can live and thrive for many years, often 15 years or more. Some well-cared-for gardenias can live for several decades, continuing to produce flowers each year.
Where should you not plant gardenias? ›Soil: Plant gardenias in humus-rich, acidic soil that is well-draining but moist. Supplementing the soil with organic compost or bark can help keep a good consistency. Whether planted in the ground or in containers, don't place gardenias near other plants because their roots don't enjoy a lot of competition.
Do gardenias need lots of water? ›Gardenias need at least an inch of water a week, whether from rainfall or a hose. Apply mulch to a depth of two to four inches to help keep moisture in the soil and control water-hogging weeds. Don't let the plants become completely dry before you water, and water regularly.
What is the Hawaiian name for gardenias? ›Notes: Originally thought to inhabit all eight Hawaiian islands; nānū (Hawaii's native gardenia) is nearly extinct in its native habitat. Nānū wood was fashioned into kapa anvils (kua kuku) and the fragrant flowers were made into beautiful lei.
Are gardenias in Hawaii? ›A member of the Rubiaceae (coffee) family, Gardenia remyi (known as Nanu in Hawaiian) is an endemic tree found on the Islands of Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii. Its habitat ranges from mesic to wet forest, ridge shrubland, and wet cliff.
How do you take care of a yellow trumpetbush? ›
The Yellow Trumpetbush blooms best in full sun. It will perform well in organic-rich and moist, well-drained soils. The shrub benefits from being allowed to dry out between waterings. The blooms may be prolonged by deadheading the spent flowers.
What does Nanu Nanu mean in English? ›(fandom slang) Hello. Wiktionary. (fandom slang) Goodbye.
How do Hawaiians say yes? ›'Ae/A'ole (yes/no)
Self explanatory term for yes and no. 'Ae is pronounced “eye” and a'ole is pronounced “ah-oh-lay.”
Aimee is also considered to be one of the largest growing Gardenias, particularly in mild winter climates where it is known to reach 10-12' high but 5-6' may be more typical.
Can you keep gardenias small? ›They do not require a lot of pruning or cutting back but can use a trim occasionally to keep their shape and size.
Are gardenias fast or slow growing? ›Thunbergia Tree Gardenia is a slow growing large shrub deserving a position in any garden. It is slow growing, but worth the wait. Dark green foliage contrasts against the tubular white flowers in autumn. Suited to growing in a large pot or as a background shrub in a garden setting.
What is the average height of gardenia? ›Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) is also known as cape jasmine and is an evergreen shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet, depending upon the cultivar. Spread is usually about the same as the height. The foliage of well-fed shrubs is glossy, dark-green, 2- to 4-inches long and half as wide.