Gardenia thunbergia Seeds

Gardenia thunbergia

Gardenia thunbergia is a beautiful flowering shrub or small tree, with showy, heavily perfumed flowers and decorative fruits.

Roots are widely used in Africa to treat skin diseases, and skin lesions caused by leprosy. The roots are also used as an emetic against fever. The rootbark is used as an emetic for biliousness, and to treat gall bladder problems. The roots and leaves are used in various parts of Africa to treat syphilis, and the latex is used as a purgative. The wood is heavy, dense and extraordinarily hard, a pleasing yellowish colour, and it presents a high lustre when polished. It also has the unusual ability to bend without breaking, but its use is limited because it is difficult to find large pieces. It is used for making buttons, tools, clubs, yokes, axles and implement handles. The fruits would make novel Xmas baubles.

This is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 2 to 5 m in height, with a smooth, whitish, usually straight main stem up to 250 to 300 mm in diameter, and short, rigid branchlets.