Gardenia: The King of Fragrance!

Scientific name Gardenia jasminoides is reminiscent of Jasmine, another flower with excellent fragrance. Yet another name is Cape Jasmine. Note that it is different from Crape Jasmine, a flower resembling Jasmine, but devoid of much fragrance. Gardenia is a shrub which can grow from one foot to up to 10 feet, especially when grown on ground soil. This one is growing in an 18 inch garden pot. Flowers were scanty so far. But now it has several flower buds and one flower which has bloomed well. Flower buds are green to begin with and become white just prior to blooming.

Now most of the buds have bloomed and the old flower has turned yellowish. You can get a glimpse of a Crape Jasmine in a nearby garden pot. Crape Jasmine flowers are much smaller than Gardenia or Cape Jasmine flowers. This plant would have grown much taller, had it not been trimmed regularly. Regular trimming is needed due to our limited garden space. Though the leaves of Gardenia have a glossy appearance, flowers have a matte texture. It has been mentioned that Gardenia blooms in summer and autumn and are among the most strongly fragrant of all flowers. Truly, a king of fragrance!