Gardenia jasminoides (Cape Jasmine)
Native from the eastern Himalaya through China and mainland Southeast Asia, and also to Japan and Taiwan, this evergreen shrub typically grows about two to six feet tall in cultivation. Its intensely fragrant white flowers occur in single and double forms, with some turning cream or yellowish as they age. The species holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Its orange-ripening fruits supply dyes used in textiles and to color foods such as candies and imitation crab. The flowers are used in perfumery and to flavor tea in China. Eating the plant can cause mild vomiting or diarrhea in cats and dogs. Photographed in the department of QuindĂo, Colombia.
