gardenia jasminoide

Gardenia jasminoides is a woody shrub with attractive foliage and fragrant, conspicuous flowers, able to grow up to 0.5 – 2m tall and with a spread of 0.5 – 2m wide. The solitary flowers are fragrant and white, measuring about 8 cm wide. This plant is ideally grown under partial shade and in fertile soil with good drainage with the roots keep moist at all times, do not let the soil dry out. The plant can be grown in the ground or in containers.

Taxonomy:

• Family :Rubiaceae

Common Names: Cape Jasmine

Habitat and Distribution:

Gardenia jasminoides thrives tropical region. It is native to China, Japan and Taiwan.

Uses:

The fruits are used in Japan and China for dyeing food yellow. Some extracts, commerically available in Japan are used on a wide range of foods such as boiled beans, imitation crab and candies. The colouring matter in the fruits contain glycoside, a compound similar to another compound crocetin which is found in Saffron (Crocus sativus). The dye is also used to colour textiles yellow or scarlet.  The flowers also contain fragrant essential oils and are used in perfumery. The are also used in China for flavouring tea.