Gardenia - Cultivation and Uses

Cultivation and Uses

Gardenia plants are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be very large in size in some species.

Gardenia jasminoides (syn. G. grandiflora, G. Florida) is cultivated as a house plant. This species can be difficult to grow because it originated in warm humid tropical areas. It demands high humidity to thrive and bright (not direct) light. It flourishes in acidic soils with good drainage and thrives on during the day and 60 F (15-16 C) in the evening. Potting soils developed especially for gardenias are available. G. jasminoides grows no larger than 18 inches in height and width when grown indoors. In climates where it can be grown outdoors, it can attain a height of 6 feet. If water touches the flowers, they will turn brown.

In China and Japan, Gardenia jasminoides is called zhīzi (栀子) and kuchinashi (梔), respectively. Its blossom is used as a yellow dye, used on fabric and food (including the Korean mung bean jelly called hwangpomuk). Its fruits are also used in traditional Chinese medicine for their clearing, calming, and cooling properties.

In France, decades ago, gardenias were the traditional flower which men sometimes wore as boutonnières on special occasions.

Sigmund Freud remarked to the poet H.D. that gardenias were his favorite flower.

It is the national flower of Pakistan.

Several species occur on Hawaii, where gardenias are known as naʻu or nānū.

Crocetin is a chemical compound found in gardenia fruit (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis). In high concentrations, it has protective effects against retinal damage in vitro and in vivo.

• Gardenia brighamii

• Gardenia jasminoides 'Plena'

• Gardenia jasminoidesl 'Radicans'

• Gardenia psidioides

• Gardenia taitensis

• Gardenia thunbergia by Edith Struben (1868-1936)

• Gardenia volkensii flower

• Gardenia volkensii flowers, foliage, fruit