Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Gardenia jasminoides

Gardenia jasminoides

7.7
An evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and large white flowers that smell sweet
  • noun
  • /ɡɑːrˈdiːniə dʒæzˈmɪnɔɪdz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : gardenia
  • She planted a Gardenia jasminoides near the entrance to enjoy its fragrance in summer.

Examples

  • Many gardeners prize Gardenia jasminoides for its beautiful, waxy white blossoms.

  • The delicate scent of the Gardenia jasminoides filled the conservatory.

  • The Gardenia jasminoides blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • I love the scent of Gardenia jasminoides in my garden.

  • Many gardeners prize Gardenia jasminoides for its beautiful, waxy white blossoms.

  • She planted a Gardenia jasminoides near the entrance to enjoy its fragrance in summer.

  • The delicate scent of the Gardenia jasminoides filled the conservatory.

Synonyms

gardenia
vsGardenia jasminoides
2 6.0

A small bush with large, sweet-smelling white or yellow flowers

is the specific common evergreen species limited to white flowers and glossy leaves
cape jasmine
vsGardenia jasminoides
6.7

An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and large sweet-smelling white flowers

is the same species but presented under a different common name
Gardenia augusta
vsGardenia jasminoides
  • Specialized
8.1

An evergreen bush with big white scented flowers and shiny leaves

is the same plant but without stressing waxy flower texture

Surface Forms

Gardenia jasminoides singular

Morphology

gardenia + jasminoides

This is a Latin binomial: knowing 'gardenia' already tells a learner it denotes that shrub, so much of the meaning is recoverable. However, 'jasminoides' is a technical Latin species epithet (literally 'jasmine‑like' from -oides) that a B1 learner is unlikely to know, so the specific nuance is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Gardenia jasminoides was named after a real person, the naturalist Alexander Garden, so Gardenia honours his name, and jasminoides means 'like jasmine' because its white, sweet-smelling flowers and scent remind people of jasmine. That's why the name fits this evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and fragrant blossoms.