“Seed Pod Update”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Back in November I wrote about the gardenia seed pod that was starting to ripen. In that post, I showed the green pod as I first saw it in July and how it was ripening to a orange-gold. Well, the seed pod has finally fallen off the gardenia bush after turning a bright red.
I couldn’t wait any longer and decided to open the pod up and to see what was inside. The pod was still fleshy inside after I opened it up. I was surprised to find many little seeds. I figured that there would have been one big seed, but that idea turned out to be wrong.
After the pod dries up a little more, I will wash the seeds, and then plant them. I still have been unable to find out any information on germinating gardenia seeds, so I may try a few different methods. I don’t know if they need light to germinate or not, so I’ll try both ways. It will be interesting to see if any sprout. Wish me luck.
Always Growing 
nancybond said,
December 18, 2008 at 7:25 pm
You have a gardenia bush? Oh, lucky girl. Gardenias are one of my favorite flowers — so creamy white and fragrant. Good luck starting new plants!
Chandramouli.S said,
December 18, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Cool! Good luck with the germination. The seed pod itself looks beautiful (the orange one in your post in the past).
Ewa said,
December 19, 2008 at 12:31 am
Good luck with with germination!
Ewa said,
December 19, 2008 at 12:39 am
just found some info about germinating gardenia seeds
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/838847/
Jean said,
December 19, 2008 at 11:25 am
How interesting! I hope you’re successful with the germination.
Randy said,
December 19, 2008 at 1:00 pm
That’s interesting as I said before I’ve never, ever seen a gardenia seed pod.
Jan said,
December 21, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Nancy, this will be a first for seeds. I do have some gardenias rooted from cuttings. It will be interesting to see what develops.
Chandramouli, the seed pod was very attractive – reminded me of rose hips.
Ewa, thanks for the info on the germination of gardenia seeds. I hadn’t thought to look at Dave’s Garden.
Jean, I am hoping I will get some plants. I’ll post, if I do.
Randy, me either, but we’ll see if anything develops. I am going to be on the look out for pods next year. Maybe, I just missed them before.
HENRY said,
October 23, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Jan,
Did you just have one pod?
It looks like your pod fell off too soon. Mine stayed on through winter and turned completely brown. They dried out and I picked all of them, about 100 in Spring. I opened them at various stages of maturity, only to find orange mush inside. I could tell they were seeds but none of those germinated. The dry pods did germinate. I planted the whole pod and 50 little plants came up, in one spot. I thinned them out and moved some to pots and they are still growing. I also planted individual seeds and some of them came up. It will be interesting to see if the plants from these pods bloom or have pods themselves. It’s fun to watch! I still have pods from last year and my bush is full of pods right now.
Jan said,
October 30, 2009 at 4:31 am
Henry, my only pod which I picked before a freeze didn’t have any viable seeds. How exciting that you were able to have seeds germinate. I’ll have to try again if I ever get any pods. Thanks for sharing your success.
Henry said,
January 5, 2012 at 2:47 am
I’ve had a big August Beauty Gardenia bush for about 10 years and for the first time I found a Seed Pod on it , Just one small pod. I was able to beat the birds to it and save it.
Until now all the Pods I have had have come from my traditional Gardenia bush. I can’t wait to see if I can get August Beauty’s to grow from seed. I think that will really be Special.
All the flowers smell the same but the August Beauty is much fuller and prettier.
Henry
Jan said,
January 5, 2012 at 8:16 am
Sounds exciting, and I hope you get another chance. I haven’t seen any more pods on my gardenia unfortunately.