|  The
Gardenia genus of flowering plants
contains around 250 different species. These plants
grow naturally in Asia, Africa, Australia and the Oceanic
regions. The Gardenia Genus was named after Dr. Alexander
Garden by Carl Linnaeus.
Gardenias are evergreens, meaning
they retain their leaves year-round. They grow in a
range from shrubs about 1 meter tall, to trees up to
15 m tall. Gardenia leaves are leathery
to the touch, are thick, and grow in bunches of 2, 3
or even 4.
The flowers on a Gardenia
bush can grow by themselves or in clusters. They are
normally a light yellow or white in color, many with
a strong fragrance, and bloom from mid-spring to the
middle of the summer months. The strong scent of the
Gardenia makes them extremely popular and prized for
gardens around the world.
Some gardenia species, like Gardenia jasminoides,
are cultivated for indoor use as a house plant. This
plant is called Kuchinashi in Japan,
and Zhi Zi in China, where they are
popular. Yellow dye is also created from this species'
bloom.
Gardenia Species
Also read about these Gardenia species.
Gardenia Manii (Nanu) |
