Staff Pick: Indian Carnation
If you aren’t keen on the constant care involved in making your native soil right for Gardenias, here’s an alternative, and a good one. The “Indian Carnation” is a sub-tropical evergreen shrub and it does great in our heavy clay soil! It grows best in morning sun and afternoon shade, gets around 5 feet tall and wide. It has white flowers that look a lot like an “August Beauty” 
Gardenia, smells sweet, but not overbearing, but more importantly the “Indian Carnation” will constantly bloom from Spring through Fall, unlike a Gardenia! In my humble opinion, that’s a wonderful alternative!
Matt
Julia Longoria says
What is the lowest temperature these plants can tolerate? I live in central tx. I’ve always brought it into my greenhouse over winter but it’s gotten so big I’d like to leave it out.
James says
I would not subject your Indian Carnation to temperatures below 40. I expect it would suffer severe damage at 30. If it’s in a pot but you can no longer move it, then water the soil thoroughly, tip it over onto the ground, and cover it with a tarp with all the edges sealed, then the ground he may prevent it from being killed, But it will still likely suffer damage to foliage. Uncover it and stand upright when temperatures rise to 45.
Jay says
Hi all. Where can I buy some indian carnation near Los Angeles? Ty advcomsyst@yahoo.com