Gardenia is a genus of 142 species of flowering plants native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania.
They are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1–15 metres (3.3–49 ft) tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three or four, 5–50 centimetres (2.0–20 in) long and 3–25 centimetres (1.2–9.8 in) broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture.
Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer and many species are strongly scented.