Gardenia taitensis Nana

Tahitian Gardenia hybrid with a dwarf growth habit and perfect compact round shape of the bush. At the center of each miniature bloom is a small tuft of petals. Fragrance is intoxicating and heady. Blooms appear throughout the growing season from late winter until fall.

Leaves are much smaller that regular Tahitian Gardenia, and the shrub stays short, can be kept under 3 ft if trimmer, and 4 ft tall if let go.

Gardenia taitensis Tiare Tahiti

National flower of French Polynesia. Native to the highland shores of the South Pacific, it has the distinction of being one of the few cultivated plants native to Polynesia. The intoxicating sweet fragrant blossoms are creamy white works of art. Large flowers 3" in diameter, large glossy oval leaves. Read more about gardenias.

Gardenia thunbergia, Gardenia verticillata, Gardenia speciosa

The flowers are large, showy, creamy white and heavily perfumed, particularly at night. They open from elegantly furled creamy-green buds. The corolla is a tube with 8 large lobes. The fruits are hard and woody, and heavily fibrous inside, and can remain on the bush for years. Each fruit is egg-shaped, grayish green, when mature roughly dotted with whitish encrustations. Easy to grow, although it is slow-growing. It does best in slightly acid, light, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter added and regular deep watering. Mulch thickly and regularly. It may need to be pruned to keep it shapely, or in scale with its container. Pruning should be done after flowering or just before the new growth appears. Although it is moderately drought tolerant, drought stress can cause buds to fall before opening. Gardenia thunbergia tolerates a winter minimum 25-30F although young plants will require protection from frost. It looks good as a specimen plant on a lawn, or as part of an informal hedge or shrubbery, or planted beside a pond or a stream. It also makes a good pot plant in a large container, its pale gray bark and angular shape making it an interesting form plant, while the flowers perfume the air. This gardenia is used as a root stock for grafted hybrid varieties thanks to its hardiness and tolerance to wide range of soil and climate conditions. It is also suitable for bonsai. Read more about gardenias.

Gardenia tubifera Kula, Gardenia pfordii

This large, rounded shrub can be trained into a small tree, maintainable to a height under 10 feet. Acid, organic and fertile soil is a must. Produces large, single golden yellow flowers. Flowers change color while mature from ivory through golden yellow to orange-yellow. Fragrance is very strong. Blooms spring onward. A slow-growing gardenia, hard to propagate. Read more about gardenias.

Gardenia vanuatuensis

New rare gardenia from S. Pacific island Vanuatu. Very salt-tolerant. Fragrant flowers are similar to G. taitensis but smaller size.

Gardenia vietnamensis, Kailarsenia vietnamensis

Very unique plant. Big flowers up to 3" in diameter, with a strong sweet scent. Medium size shrub, perfect for container. Leaves are wide and glossy. Fast-growing. This gardenia is one of the easiest in culture. Forms nice bushy specimen without additional trimming. Unlike most true gardenias, tolerates slight over-watering and drought. The best choice for beginner. This pretty plant has been called "gardenia" for long time. However, analysis shows that it is a horticultural form of Kailarsenia. In fact, taxonomically Gardenia vietnamensis is not a valid species. In physical comparison of flowers from this plant and Kailarsenia lineata, the differences are miniscule except the broader leaves on the "k. vietnamensis". Rubiaceae specialist Christian Puff, as well as taxonomist John Mood confirm that they are the same plant florally. Gardenias do not have a seed capsule with distinct ridges on the fruit, and both plants produce seed capsules with ridges.

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See article about this plant.

Gardenia volkensii

This shrub or small tree is native from Angola to KwaZulu-Natal. This species has fragrant white blossoms turning yellow with time. Gardenia volkensii ssp. spathulifolia has long narrow leaves, with wavy margins - very curious plant.

Woody seed pods remain on the branches.

Gardenia thunbergia is often confused with Gardenia volkensii, it may be distinguished from the Transvaal Gardenia, by the fact that its fruits are not ribbed. The fruits and roots are used in the treatment of a variety of ailments, including asthma, infertility, earache, sore eyes, epilepsy and headache. Ashes from burnt roots are placed on the chest as a treatment for pneumonia. Some local people also believe that this shrub will protect them from lightning.

Gardenia x duruma

The sweet fragrance of gardenias on a versatile, dwarf size shrub. Great in containers, raised beds and in the foreground of borders. Single flowers are star-like with five petals atop foliage spring and fall. Evergreen. Full to partial sun. Slow-growing to only 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Easily kept under 12" in height. Single white flower is 1.5-2" across. A dense, bushy, branching habit with small to moderate sized, shiny green leaves make this a great choice for windowsill culture. Hardy Zone 8 and higher. Related cultivar - Gardenia Duruma. Read more about gardenias.

Guettarda speciosa

Guettarda speciosa has fragrant white flowers, and large green prominently-veined leaves. The fragrance is similar to, though weaker than, the commonly grown exotic gardenia. Flowers are followed by small globular hard fruits to 1" in diameter.

Hyperacanthus amoenus, Gardenia amoena

This shrub or small tree with its glossy green foliage and pretty flowers is an attractive option for gardeners looking to expand their collection of indigenous shrubs. Lateral branches are arranged opposite on the main stem. Leaves develop below spines, are simple, clustered and arranged in whorls of five with smooth margins. Growth tips of new leaves are red. Spines are smaller than leaves. Flower buds are red to pink and open into white star-like flowers with a delightful fragrance. Green fruits develop after flowering and become fleshy brown as they ripen.

Hyperacanthus amoenus occurs naturally in Mozambique, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. Its preferred habitat is bushveld, forest and woodland.

The genus is relatively small in South Africa with only a few species. It was previously classified under the genus Gardenia, but has recently been shown to be clearly separate. The genus name Hyperacanthus is derived from the Greek hyper, meaning above, and akantha, meaning spine. The species name amoenus means pleasant or delightful.