Cape jasmine
Gardenia jasminoides
Synonyms: Gardenia radicans, Gardenia pictorum, Gardenia florida var. fortuneana, Gardenia augusta, Gardenia florida f. simpliciflora, Gardenia jasminoides f. simpliciflora, Gardenia jasminoides var. variegata, Gardenia grandiflora, Gardenia jasminoides f. ovalifolia, Gardenia jasminoides f. kueishanensis, Gardenia jasminoides f. oblanceolata, Warneria augusta, Gardenia florida var. ovalifolia, Gardenia augusta var. ovalifolia, Mussaenda chinensis, Gardenia angustifolia var. kosyunensis, Gardenia jasminoides var. grandiflora, Gardenia longisepala, Genipa florida, Gardenia jasminoides f. longicarpa, Gardenia jasminoides var. kosyunensis, Jasminum capense, Gardenia schlechteri, Gardenia florida variegata, Gardenia jasminoides var. longisepala, Gardenia jasminoides var. fortuneana, Gardenia radicans variegata, Genipa grandiflora, Gardenia jasminoides var. plena, Gardenia jasminoides f. albomarginata, Gardenia florida var. plena, Gardenia maruba, Gardenia augusta var. grandiflora, Gardenia jasminoides f. albovariegata, Gardenia angustifolia, Gardenia florida, Gardenia augusta var. kosyunensis, Gardenia radicans var. simpliciflora, Gardenia jasminoides f. maruba, Gardenia jasminoides var. ovalifolia, Gardenia florida f. oblanceolata, Gardenia jasminoides var. maruba, Gardenia augusta f. shanpinensis, Gardenia florida var. radicans, Gardenia florida var. maruba, Gardenia jasminoides f. aureovariegata, Gardenia florida var. grandiflora, Gardenia jasminoides f. variegata, Gardenia florida f. thunbergii, Genipa radicans, Gardenia augusta var. longisepala, Gardenia jasminoides f. grandiflora, Gardenia jasminoides var. radicans
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Gardenia jasminoides, the cape jasmine or zhi zi (梔子), is an evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae native to subtropical eastern Asia (southern China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam) and cultivated worldwide for its fragrant flowers and medicinal fruit. Plants reach 1–3 m with glossy, opposite or whorled, lanceolate to obovate leaves 5–15 cm long, dark green and leathery, with interpetiolar stipules. Flowers are solitary at branch tips, waxy white aging to cream-yellow, broadly funnelform, 5–10 cm across, with a long slender corolla tube and 5–9 spreading lobes; the heavy jasmine-like fragrance is most intense at dusk. Stamens are 5–9, inserted in the throat. The fruit is an ovoid to ellipsoid orange-red berry 1.5–3 cm long, longitudinally 6–9 ribbed, crowned by the persistent calyx lobes, and containing many small seeds embedded in pulp rich in the iridoid glycoside geniposide and the carotenoid crocin. Flowering is May–August; fruits ripen September–December.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.