Gardenia is a genus of 142 species of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus after Dr. Alexander Garden (1730 to 1791), a Scottish-born American naturalist. They are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1 to 15 metres tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three or four, 5 to 50 centimetres long and 3 to 25 centimetres broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture. The flowers are solitary or in small clusters, white, or pale yellow, with a tubular-based corolla with 5 to 12 lobes (petals) from 5 to 12 centimetres diameter. Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer and many species are strongly scented.

The famous flower used by the floral industry in arrangements and corsages make for wonderful shrubs in frost free zones and lovely fragrant houseplants in colder areas. Gardenia jasminoides or Cape Jasmine is an evergreen shrub that are highly prized for their profusion of sweetly fragrant double white blooms. Growing to a height of 1.2 to 1.8 meters and equal spread in the garden (smaller in containers), many would argue that there are few shrubs so perfect in their properties as a well grown Gardenia. With its low, dense growth, upright habit and its gorgeous bright green glossy leaves, Gardenia is a very attractive evergreen container plant or garden specimen. The real prize of this plant is its highly fragrant 10cm double white blooms which turn to creamy yellow as they age. These open over a long period of time and make great long lasting cut flowers. Indoors they have a powerful, sweet fragrance, and can perfume an entire room. Outside, grow near a patio or in an outdoor living area where the fragrance can be enjoyed.