gardenia

/gahr dee"nyeuh, -nee euh/, n.

1. any evergreen tree or shrub belonging to the genus Gardenia, of the madder family, native to the warmer parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, cultivated for its usually large, fragrant white flowers.

2. the flower of any of these plants.

[ < NL (1760), after Alexander Garden (1730-91), American physician; see -IA]

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Any of the approximately 200 species of ornamental shrubs and trees in the genus Gardenia, in the madder family, native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia.

Gardenias have white or yellow tubular flowers, evergreen leaves, and large, berrylike fruits containing a sticky, orange pulp. Cape jasmine (G. jasminoides), native to China, is the fragrant species sold by florists.

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▪ plant genus

 genus of ornamental shrubs and trees of the madder family (Rubiaceae), containing about 60 species native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. Gardenias have white or yellow tubular flowers, evergreen leaves, and large, berrylike fruits containing a sticky, orange pulp.

      Cape jasmine (G. augusta), native to China, is the fragrant species sold by florists.

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