gardenia

gar·de·nia

noun \gär-ˈdē-nyə\

Definition of GARDENIA

: any of a large genus (Gardenia) of Old World tropical trees and shrubs of the madder family with showy fragrant white or yellow flowers

Origin of GARDENIA

New Latin, from Alexander Garden †1791 Scottish naturalist

First Known Use: 1760

Rhymes with GARDENIA

Ruthenia, Tigrinya

gardenia

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

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.