What is Gardenia?
{{Taxobox | name = ''Gardenia'' | image = Gardenia.brighamii02.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Gardenia brighamii'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Gentianales]] | familia = [[Rubiaceae]] | genus = '''''Gardenia''''' | genus_authority = [[John Ellis (naturalist)|J.Ellis]] | subdivision_ranks = | subdivision = }} '''''Gardenia''''' is a [[genus|gardenia]] of about 250 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Rubiaceae]]. Gardenia can be found in the [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] regions of [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]], [[Australasia]] and [[Oceania]]. The genus was named by [[Carl Linnaeus]] after ''Dr Alexander Garden'' (1730-1791), Scottish-born American naturalist. They are [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s growing to 1–15 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in [[whorl]]s of three or four, 5–50&nbsp;cm long and 3–25&nbsp;cm broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture. The [[flower]]s are solitary or in small [[cluster]]s, white or pale yellow. Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer and many [[species]] are strongly scented. ==Cultivation and uses== Gardenia plants are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be very large in some species. Gardenias have a reputation for being difficult to grow. Because they originated in warm humid tropical areas, they demand high [[humidity]]. == Gallery == <gallery> Image:Starr_030523-0050_Gardenia_brighamii.jpg|''Gardenia brighamii'' - flower Image:Gardenia_Flower.jpg|Gardenia flower Image:White Gardenia flower.jpg|Gardenia flower Image:Gardenia thunbergia00.jpg|<center>''Gardenia thunbergia'' by Edith Struben (1868-1936)</center> </gallery> ==Other websites== *[http://www.discoverplants.com/plant-types/shrubs-and-bushes/gardenia/gardening.php Growing Gardenias] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502000123/http://www.discoverplants.com/plant-types/shrubs-and-bushes/gardenia/gardening.php |