Gondhoraj/ Cape Jasmine: Plant description, Planting and Its uses

                          Gondhoraj/ Cape Jasmine

Gondhoraj flower(in Bengal ) is commonly known as Gardenia plants or Cape Jasmine is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar and Pacific Islands. .This is very common only for its strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be cultivated as a house plant. The plants grow from 2 to 8 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety. Most gardenias grow into a round shape with dark green, glossy leaves and white, fragrant flowers that bloom from mid-spring into summer.They are evergreen shrubs and small trees. The flowers are solitary or in small clusters, white, or pale yellow, with 5-12 lobes.

Botanical name: Gardenia jasminoides

Family: Rubiaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 2-8 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White

Temperature: 20-30°C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy soil

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow, evergreen, fragrant


Planting:

Plant in spring or fall, spacing plants 3 to 6 feet apart. Have the soil tested to determine pH, and if necessary add the recommended amount of sulfur to reduce the pH to between 5 and 6. Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. If soil is in very poor condition, amend the soil that remove from the hole with a small amount of compost. Otherwise don't amend it at all. Carefully remove the plant from the container and set it in the hole. Fill the hole half full with soil, then water it well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Let the water drain, then fill the remainder of hole with soil and water thoroughly.


Uses: 

• The plant is basically used for decoration purpose at home garden. 
• Its fruits are also used in traditional Chinese medicine for their clearing, calming, and cooling properties.