Gardenia

gardenia: see madder.

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gardenia

Any of the approximately 200 species of ornamental shrubs and trees in the genus Gardenia, in the madder family, native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. Gardenias have white or yellow tubular flowers, evergreen leaves, and large, berrylike fruits containing a sticky, orange pulp. Cape jasmine (G. jasminoides), native to China, is the fragrant species sold by florists.

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gardenia

1. any evergreen shrub or tree of the Old World tropical rubiaceous genus Gardenia, cultivated for their large fragrant waxlike typically white flowers

2. the flower of any of these shrubs

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Gardenia 

a genus of evergreen and some deciduous shrubs or small trees of the Rubiaceae family. The flowers are individual, large, and fragrant with five to nine white, yellow, or violet petals. The fruit is a berry. There are about 250 species in tropical and subtropical Asia, as well as in tropical and southern Africa. Many species are used for decoration. The most widely cultivated—for example, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus—is the Gardenia jas-miniodes (G. florida, G. radicans), which has white flowers. Double-blossom types may reach a diameter of 10 cm and are used for cut flowers. In horticulture this type is sometimes known as cape jasmine. Certain species, such as G. latifolia, have heavy, hard wood suitable for working. The buds and young shoots of G. campanulata and G. gummifera produce resinous substances.