A few years ago the last gardenia bush in the front yard gave up the ghost. It had been a spindly shrub for a few years before that, but I just believed it would get a second wind and come back. The flowers were small to non-existent with more wood than leaves. I gave up and dug it up and let the ground sit for awhile, but I knew something had to go back into that small area near the front door. I finally decided on a star jasmine.
Since the gardenia had a lovely fragrance, I figured its replacement should also, and when I found a gallon jasmine plant on sale, that seemed to settle it. Of course, I had to dig a whole in this hardpan riddled, heavy clay soil in which to put the plant. Soil that is not conducive to growing flowering plants. But I was willing to give it a try.
The poor jasmine plant has struggled but each year it puts out more branches and with more branches comes more flowers. Right now it is at it’s peak so it is the perfect time to sit on the front porch and read a good book, which for now is Elizabeth Berg’s “Tapestry of Fortunes.” The warm afternoon temperatures raise the fragrance level of the jasmine, and a soft breeze wafts it on the air. The perfect way to spend a Saturday after the chores are done.
How long will the jasmine survive in that unforgiving soil? Who knows, but for right now, I’m going to enjoy its productivity.
Dkzody's Weblog 
I remember once having a gardenia shrub right outside my window, and every night in the summer it would waft into my bedroom. Sadly, my sniffer doesn’t catch as many wonderful smells as it once did. I stood right in the middle of a lilac bush this week and tried to smell it, but it didn’t make it to my consciousness.
From what I can google it is drought tolerant, so good luck!
I love jasmine, too.
I love Jasmine and Gardenias. Gardens love Florida and the Gulf states where they have plenty of moisture and alkaline sandy soil. I had one outside my door when I lived in Tampa. Have you tried modifying the soil with compost?
Jasmine is called pikake here in Hawaii. A Filipino friend told me it was the national flower of her country. I see them growing all over the place here.
We had a night blooming jasmine that died because there was too much water in the soil and poor drainage. I think we’ll plant another in a better location. I bought a bouquet of gardenias once, put them in water to root after they were through blooming, and planted them in the back yard, where they have grown into a hedge! I love them and have some flowers on them right now.