Powder-bark gardenia
Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It grows 4-7 m tall. The leaves are in rings of three on short side branches. The leaves are broadly oval. They are 2.5-8 cm long. The flowers occur singly on the ends of branches. The flowers are trumpet shaped. They are 10 cm long. The tube is slender. It is green and the lobes are yellowish-white. The fruit is yellow. It is oval and 5 cm long by 3.5 cm wide.

There are about 200 Gardenia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It needs moderate moisture. It grows in an average to fertile, well-drained soil. It can grow in full or part sun. It is often on termite mounds. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from large cuttings (8 cm across). They are best dipped in rooting hormone. Plants can be grown from seed.

Fruit is often not produced in cultivation.

Its other names

Local names

Bireu, Bosseleole, Brintintchi, Cikololo, Djugale, Gambilo, Manceba, Mukololo, Mutara, Mutarara, Mutarura, N'do, N'due, Odwong, Umvalasangwa, Undagal

Synonyms

Gardenia jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Hiern; Gardenia asperula Stapf & Hutch; Gardenia goetzei Stapf. & Hutch;