•    Scientific name: Gardenia jasminoides
    •    Popular Names: Gardenia, Cape Jasmine
    •    Family: Rubiaceae
    •    Category: Shrubs, Hedges, Perennial Flowers
    •    Climate: Mediterranean, Subtropical, Temperate, Tropical
    •    Origin: Asia, China
    •    Height: 1.8 to 2.4 meters
    •    Lightness: Half Shade
    •    Life Cycle: Perennial
 
The gardenia is a shrubby plant, with a semi-woody texture, with erect and branched branches and evergreen leaves. Its average height is 1.5 to 2 meters tall. Its leaves are shiny, leathery, opposite, oval and dark green. The flowers are white, waxy, large and very fragrant. Over time, they acquire a cream color with yellowish tones. Flowering occurs in mid-spring and early summer. The fruits, from the fertile varieties, have a yellow pulp, from which dyes for handicrafts and industry are extracted. There are varieties with single or double flowers, small and large, as well as varieties with prostrate and small branches.
Gardenia is a plant with a rich fragrance and its use should take advantage of this quality. It can be grown isolated on patios or close to doors and windows, where people pass by. Being conducted without consolidation pruning, just cleaning, it grows with greater ventilation and is less susceptible to diseases. However, it can be planted in groups and, with careful care, can form beautiful hedges with a more compact texture. The ideal time to prune gardenias is after flowering. It lends itself to planting in pots and is great for bonsai.
        
It should be grown in partial shade, in fertile soil,slightly acidic, well-draining, enriched with organic matter and with regular watering. Iron chelate supplements andfertilizers in spring and summer they encourage vigorous growth and intense flowering. The gardenia appreciates the mild temperature, but does not tolerate low air humidity. It adapts well to subtropical and high-altitude tropical climates, with cool nights.