SBHCOM wrote:

I live in Michigan zone 5 and am not sure, the tag says I can but its from
Walmart so I want to be sure.

A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a dumb man something to stick in his
mouth.

There are a number of cultivars of Gardenia jasminoides that are hardy outdoor
shrubs well into zone 7 - 'Chuck Hayes' is reported to be the hardiest, possibly
to 6b. They grow here in the PNW with ease in a full sun location. Regardless,
none will fare well in a zone 5 Michigan winter so ignore what the Walmart tag
says :-)) You can grow a gardenia as an outdoor plant in a container during the
summer months and bring it in to enjoy as a houseplant for the winter. Contrary to
other posts, they are not hard to grow as a houseplant, provided you give them
proper conditions. They like bright light, high humidity and acidic soil. Keep the
soil evenly moist but do not overwater (in other words - do not let the soil dry
out completely). Humidity can be achieved by daily misting, which will also reduce
the likelihood of spider mite infestations. Fertilize during the growing season
(May-Sept) weekly with an acid-based fertilizer and enjoy the fragrance!

pam - gardengal