85 is certainly not too hot for gardenias, if you look at the zones they grow in, our summers are in the upper 90s to 100s. Some varieties even manage to bloom in these temps. Now the one thing they dont seem to like is being too wet. I hope your gardenia has recovered

It's not the temperatures, it's the sunlight. Gardenias need shade from the afternoon sun in your zone, especially until they get established. It looks like your gardenia isn't grafted. The reason gardenias need to be grafted down here is that nematodes will kill them within a year if they aren't. I know someone will argue with that, but I've seen too many "florist" gardenias planted in the ground and then have the nematodes kill them. Also, don't water them too much. If you have a sprinkler system that is watering them daily, turn that head away from the gardenia. I'd probably pull it up and put it into a large container of sterile soil with good drainage.

Veitchii wants to die. Its famous for being a suicidal gardenia (remember that old thread? lol) Ive killed a bunch of them. Get August Beauty or better yet the Tahitian Gardenia that Lowes usually has. They usually look like a standard. The flowers are way bigger, just as fragrant and blooms way way more. Best of all, it loves FL and wants to live despite my neglect & abuse.

Here's a link that supports Deb's comment on nematodes. Grow a Gardinia

Sultry, is the tahitian gardenia hardy to 9a?

I have a few radicans and couple of them seem to be thriving. A jubilation in a planter was doing well until I had to leave for a couple week, blooms well. I am trying to get a few other varieties, august beauty is sold everywhere in houston and most yards have a hedge. It does not bloom much after spring, a few sporadic flowers.

Thanks everyone on your comments ! actually the one in the picture died and I got August Beauty from Lowes , and it died too for some unknown reason after a few months in the ground . Where to get the grafted Gardenias ? How do I know it is grafted ?

Pink rose, I live in Houston, so not sure of sources, but you can try one of the smaller varieties in a planter? I do see some grafted gardenias online, but I'm sure others can point you to local resources. Good luck!

Dont read the suicidal gardenia thread lol! In 2004, when we bought our first house, someone gave us a couple of gardenias. I did not know what I was doing and they started to decline pretty fast. I went online looking for help, read that thread and stopped trying to grow them for the next 15 years. Now with a bit of experience, trying to go at it again. But if you do look the thread up, its hilarious and do remember most people in the thread are in zones that gardenias dont do well, so keep that in mind and dont give up on them like I did!

Thanks, tcgardener. I've grown a lot of gardenia cuttings in containers, where the nematodes couldn't get to them, and they made it to about 5 years before they got too large and were given away to people who planted them in the ground and had them die within 2 years. I tried to tell them, but people won't listen.

Pink Rose, I assume you are planting these gardenias in the same place. Don't do that. If one plant dies in a place, something could be wrong with the soil. One rule of gardening is to never plant the same plant in a spot where one has died. A few more rules:

"They need to be planted away from concrete foundations and walkways where concrete will leach into the soil.

Areas with a pH of 7 or above (often from shell or natural limestone) will make it a struggle for you keep the plant happy and healthy.

You may want to have the area where you want to plant tested for pH before you purchase a gardenia. The ideal pH for these shrubs is between 5 and 6.5."

When I worked at a garden center in Venice, FL, we recommended Miami Supreme, Aimee and August Beauty, all grafted. There are other varieties, as well. This from UF:

"Many cultivars of Gardenia jasminoides exist that offer considerable variation in plant size, flower form, and blooming time and duration. Good performers for Florida include ‘Miami Supreme’ and ‘Belmont’ (larger blooms; spring flowering), ‘Mary Ann’ and ‘Aimee’ (big flowers; later blooming), ‘Veitchii’ (compact plant with small flowers produced 2–3 times/year), and 'Radicans’ (dwarf form 20–24 inches tall). Other popular cultivars are ‘Frostproof’, ‘August Beauty’, and the single-flowered ‘Viet Nam’ which blooms 7 months/year. "