Gardenia jasminoides - Cape Jasmine Seeds

Among the most fragrant flowering plants, one can only admire the most beautiful features of the Gardenia jasminoides. This gardenia, also known as Cape jasmine or Gardenia augusta, forms a small elegant bush with thick, evergreen, dark green and shiny foliage, on which stand out double flowers with waxy texture, with white-cream petals imbued with a powerful floral scent, deliciously intoxicating, addictive. When the conditions are met, in humid and mild climate and non-limestone soil, protected from scorching sun and frost, the gardenia proves to be one of the most beautiful plant creatures.

Gardenia jasminoides, is a bush of the Rubiaceae family, native to Asia. It is frequently found in the wild in Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, and India in mild and humid climates. Its cultivation in China dates back at least a thousand years, and it has given rise to numerous highly floriferous horticultural varieties. It is an evergreen bush with a bushy habit, reaching 60 to 80cm (31.5in) in all directions in pots, 1.80m (5.9ft) in open ground. Its white flowers, with a powerful scent, bloom in spring and summer. They appear solitary in the axils of the leaves, at the top of the branches, measuring 4 to 6cm (2.4in) in diameter and composed of numerous white cream petals that fade to pale yellow. The flowering is followed by the formation of oval fruits containing the seeds. The flowers stand out well against the large, thick leaves 10cm (3.9in) long and 3cm (1.2in) wide), ovate, entire, very shiny dark green with very visible veins. Its bark is greyish. The Gardenia has a very long lifespan and is more floriferous in its young age.

In mild and humid coastel climates it is possible to consider growing gardenia in open ground, in ericaceous soil, in partial shade. Elsewhere, it must be grown in pots that are stored away in winter. The gardenia does not acclimate well in a house, as the atmosphere is too warm and especially too dry. Ideally, this tropical shrub will be grown in a greenhouse or in a slightly heated conservatory. Stays in apartments will be limited to 2 weeks, to enjoy its flowering, then it will need to be brought back to the greenhouse or placed outside in partial shade and sheltered from the wind. Watering must be done with non-limestone water.