The world of Gardenias in Texas took a major hit in February 2021 with winter storm Uri. This late winter blast took temperatures to below zero after weeks of relatively mild temperatures. Death and destruction was everywhere. Gardenias were particularly susceptible. Nacogdoches experienced a -4F record all time low and all thirty plus varieties at SFA Gardens went to the ground. All but two.

‘Whispering Pines’ was undamaged by the cold snap. This clone was found in South Alabama by Jim Berry of JBerry Nursery, Gran Saline, Texas. It was a very large tree in an abandoned home place and had obviously been there a long time. As Jim is prone to do, he thought this clone had certainly survived a long history. He took cuttings, rooted them and grew out a block. On a visit there, we looked at the block and Jim said it was just like any other double and wasn’t going to proceed with it and would I like a few. Yes. Planted at SFA in 2011, the bush remained healthy for years, flowered heavy and grew fast. The Feb 16 2021 arctic blast called winter storm Uri took temperatures to -4F. Most of our thirty clones died to the ground, some forever. a 4-6″ snow cover helped protect some and they returned. Some went to heaven. ‘Whispering Pines’ was unaffected and bloomed normally shortly after. Who wouldn’t think a cold hardy gardenia should have legs in our industry. Everyone is looking for sustainable gardens, plants that are climate resilient. We feel we have one here.

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Cutie Pie’ is also a survivor. This was a long ago Lynn Lowrey clone goes back to the 1980s, which we propagated and distributed for years at SFA Gardens. Dawn Stover, renamed it ‘Cutie Pie’, a fine name since it’s such a distinctive dwarf form. It had a little damage during the Feb 16 2021 hard freeze but for the most part returned gracefully to full health.