Flowering shrub

Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides

🌷 Flowering shrub

Gardenia is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 33 states.

0states

33of our state lists

37U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Quick look

Gardenia jasminoides, commonly known as gardenia and cape jasmine, is an evergreen flowering plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae. It is native to the subtropical and northern tropical parts of the Far East. Wild plants range from 30 centimetres to 3 metres in height.
From Wikipedia's article Gardenia jasminoides, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Rubiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 9 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #150 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 6 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #135 among the 171 flowers on our South Carolina list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 5 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #144 among the 167 flowers on our Alabama list. ^iNaturalist

Gardenia gift ideas

Handmade gardenia gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4 records)

Bloom time in each of our 33 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Georgia	🌷 Garden	few records	9
South Carolina	🌷 Garden	few records	6
Alabama	🌷 Garden	few records	5
Florida	🌷 Garden	few records	5
Louisiana	🌷 Garden	few records	4
Texas	🌷 Garden	few records	3
Mississippi	🌷 Garden	few records	2
North Carolina	🌷 Garden	few records	2
Maryland	🌷 Garden	few records	1
Arkansas	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Arizona	🌷 Garden	few records	0
California	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Connecticut	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Hawaii	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Iowa	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Illinois	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Indiana	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Kentucky	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Massachusetts	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Michigan	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Minnesota	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Missouri	🌷 Garden	few records	0
New Jersey	🌷 Garden	few records	0
New Mexico	🌷 Garden	few records	0
New York	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Ohio	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Oklahoma	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Oregon	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Pennsylvania	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Tennessee	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Virginia	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Washington	🌷 Garden	few records	0
Wisconsin	🌷 Garden	few records	0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe: Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. ^NatureServe
Georgia: Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). ^{Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09}
South Carolina: No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead.
Alabama: No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead.
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Louisiana: No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks.
Texas: Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. ^{31 TAC 69.8}
Mississippi: No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead.
North Carolina: Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). ^{02 NCAC 48F .0301}
Maryland: Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). ^{COMAR 08.03.08}
Arkansas: No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead.
Arizona: Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). ^{AAC R3-3 App. A}
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
Connecticut: Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). ^{CT E/T/SC list}
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. ^{HAR 13-107}
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). ^{IAC 571-77.3}
Illinois: Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. ^{IL E&T checklist 2025}
Indiana: No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
Kentucky: Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). ^{400 KAR 3:040}
Massachusetts: Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). ^{MESA list}
Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). ^{R 299.1028}
Minnesota: Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). ^{Minn. R. 6134.0300}
Missouri: Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. ^{3 CSR 10-4.111}
New Jersey: Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). ^{N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1}
New Mexico: Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). ^{19.21.2.9 NMAC}
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Ohio: Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). ^{OAC 1501:18-1-03}
Oklahoma: No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead.
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Pennsylvania: Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). ^{17 Pa. Code Ch. 45}
Tennessee: Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). ^{TN rule 0400-06-02-.04}
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). ^2VAC5-320-10
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.
Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). ^{NR 27.03}

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Symptoms they list: “Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, hives.” They also note: “Flowers are edible.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Cape Jasmine” (Gardenia jasminoides) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.