5 Gardenia volkensii Seeds - Indigenous Medicinal Flowering Tree, Shrub - Combined Global Shipping

Gardenia volkensii Seeds

Bushveld Gardenia

Gardenia is a genus of 142 species of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus after Dr. Alexander Garden (1730 to 1791), a Scottish-born American naturalist. They are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1 to 15 metres tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three or four, 5 to 50 centimetres long and 3 to 25 centimetres broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture. The flowers are solitary or in small clusters, white, or pale yellow, with a tubular-based corolla with 5 to 12 lobes (petals) from 5 to 12 centimetres diameter. Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer and many species are strongly scented.

Gardenia volkensii or The Bushveld Gardenia as it is commonly known is an eye-catching small tree. In its habitat it may reach 8 meters in height but in the garden 2-4 meters is more likely. This compact tree bears grey-green fruits which remain on the tree for a long time and is used by locals for an array of medical problems like infertility, asthma, epilepsy, earache and many more. Some local tribes will establish camps around these trees in the belief that they will be protected from lightning in a magical way. This tree is often used by landscapers all over South Africa because of its moderate growth rate, non-invasive root system and the absolutely stunning display when in full flower.