THE Gardenia is an evergreen shrub or small tree which grows from three to six feet tall.
It  is a member of a family of  142 species of flowering plants in the coffee clan, and  is    native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania. Several species occur on Hawaii, where they are known as nānū. It is also  the  national flower of Pakistan.
Gardenias are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be very large in some species.
The plant was named by Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, Carl Linnaeus (1707 –1778) after Dr. Alexander Garden (1730-1791), a Scottish-born American naturalist.
In France years  ago, the Gardenia was the traditional flower which men wore sometimes as a single flower or bud pushed through the  buttonhole of coats and jackets as a floral decoration on  special occasions.
Proms ( gathering of high school students near the  end of the senior year), homecomings, funerals, and weddings were the popular occasions  for  decorative use of the flower.
The famous American Jazz singer, Billie Holiday (1915-1959) liked to wear gardenias in her hair. It was one of  her most noticeable features. She called them her trademark.
As a shrub and tree,  the Gardenia has dark green glossy leaves which are opposite or in whorls of three or four with a leathery texture, and some in some varieties spotted with white.
The flowers are solitary or in small clusters, waxy white, or pale yellow, mainly white with 5-12 petals from 2 to 5  inches in diameter, and in most varieties highly fragrant.
Gardenias in a garden are long-lived pleasures all year round.
Growing happily in pots,  too, they’re best positioned where the gardener  can enjoy the perfume — near doorways, windows and outdoor seating areas.
There’s little to do to keep gardenias looking good. Just keep them compact and in shape with a light prune after they’ve finished flowering.
The sweet-smelling variegated variety of the Gardenia plant is available locally at the #1 Plant Shop at 70 Sheriff Street, Campbelville: Telephone # 227 8094.
Prices range from $2500 upwards. But guess what: As a boon to readers of this Green Corner column,  management of the Plant Shop is prepared to offer buyers a 15% discount. The only condition is that you take a clipping of this article with you when you visit the shop to make your purchase.
Hurry while stocks last.