Although you’re probably familiar with the gardenia’s large, fragrant flowers, do you know the gardenia flower meaning? The iconic gardenia flowers symbolize purity, admiration, secret love, and innocence.
The exact meaning varies between cultures, so keep reading to learn more about the symbolism of the gardenia. You’ll also learn a few fun facts about these flowers.
About the Gardenia Flower
The term gardenia refers to a genus of flowering plants in a genus of the same name. Although these species vary in appearance, they all grow as large shrubs or small trees and produce leathery leaves that remain green year-round. Gardenias produce large white flowers that range in size from two to five inches. Many of these flowers have a strong floral fragrance that fills the air in the spring and summer. Some have a simple single layer of petals while others have multiple layers.
Although these flowering plants are native to tropical regions in Africa, Asia, and Australia, they get their common name from the Scott Alexander Garden.
Today, you can find gardenias growing in gardens throughout the world. The most commonly grown species is Gardenia jasminoides, also known as cape jasmine. This species is a popular plant in Florida, California, and other areas that remain warm year-round. However, plant breeders have created new varieties that can withstand colder temperatures. That means you can find gardenias growing as far north as zone six.
Even if you can’t grow these flowers where you live, you can enjoy their fragrance in lotions and soaps or appreciate the beauty of a bouquet of gardenia flowers. Just note that the flowers only last for a few days after they’re cut.
What Is the Meaning of Gardenia?
The exact meaning of the gardenia depends on who you ask. These flowers are generally tied to feelings of love, innocence, and admiration.
Purity
The vast majority of gardenias are white, which explains why these fragrant flowers are often seen as symbols of purity. Just take a look at their large, white petals and you’ll be able to see their unadulterated, pure nature. This gardenia meaning makes them popular flowers for events like weddings and baptisms.
Admiration and Secret Love
If you have a crush but are a little shy about it, the gardenia is a great way to let the recipient of your feelings know. These flowers are symbols of admiration and secret love, so giving someone a bouquet of gardenias will help them know your feelings. Since not everyone’s familiar with the gardenia flower meaning, it’s helpful to include a little love note along with your bouquet.
The gardenia’s symbolism of love and admiration also makes it an appropriate flower for occasions like anniversaries and date nights. A stroll through a gardenia-filled garden or a vase filled with gardenias are both great ways to show your love.
Innocence
Just like their white blooms make them symbols of purity, this also leads to the gardenia meaning of innocence. This symbolism also makes them popular flowers for baptisms and weddings.
Popular Types of Gardenias
There are more than 100 gardenia species and even more varieties within these species. That means you can choose from many different types of gardenias! While all of the flowers are beautiful, here are some of the most popular varieties.
‘Crown Jewel’
This dwarf variety maxes out at three feet tall, making it a good option for smaller spaces. It’s also one of the most cold tolerant gardenia cultivars and can survive in zone six. ‘Crown Jewel’ produces double flowers throughout the spring and summer.
‘August Beauty’
An iconic gardenia in many southern states, ‘August Beauty’ grows as a medium to large shrub. The plants produce large white flowers that bloom for multiple months. These blooms contain multiple layers of petals and emit a wonderful floral fragrance.
‘Frost Proof’
As you might expect, ‘Frost Proof’ is an excellent choice if you’re worried about cold weather and late frosts. It can tolerate spring cold better than other gardenia varieties and grows well without much care. The plants produce fragrant white flowers with an inner layer of small petals and an outer layer of longer petals.
‘Swan Princess’
This gardenia is another cold-hardy variety that can thrive in zones six and above. It produces loads of double-petaled white flowers that emit a strong fragrance. ‘Swan Princess’ remains under four feet tall, so it can be grown in the ground or in large containers.
Gardenia Fun Facts
Most garden-grown gardenias are Gardenia jasminoides, which makes sense when you consider humans have been cultivating these plants for around a thousand years. Historic artwork shows the gardenia flowers were important in Chinese culture as early as the Song Dynasty (962-1279). Chinese people have used the flowers for their floral fragrance and women have used them as hair decor.
The gardenia made its way to the present-day United States with the help of its namesake, Alexander Garden. After Garden arrived in Charleston, he began sending plant samples across the Atlantic to his English botanist friend John Ellis. In an attempt to show appreciation and respect, Ellis encouraged biologist Carl Linnaeus to name the gardenia plant after Garden. Eventually, a sample of the gardenia was sent to Garden in Charleston. While he may not have known the meaning of gardenia, that didn’t stop him from helping the plants spread across the Southeast.
Today, the gardenia is well-known for its strong floral fragrance. You can find the gardenia’s unmistakable scent in everything from candles to soaps to essential oils.
Although the flowers are more popular than the fruits, people have used the small yellow fruits to create a bright yellow dye. Herbalists also use the dried fruits to create healing teas.
Order Flowers from The Bouqs Co.
Whether you want to show your partner your love, remind a friend you’re there for them during a tough time, or congratulate a colleague on a big accomplishment, flowers will do the trick. While the gardenia meaning primarily relates to love, purity, and innocence, you can find other flowers with different meanings. If you check out the azalea meaning, you’ll learn these flowers symbolize healing and affection. And lavender symbolizes peace and tranquility.
Once you decide on the best flowers for your occasion, you can order flowers online. We carry a wide variety of farm-fresh flowers, including bouquets of red roses, colorful mixed arrangements, and relaxing pastel blooms.
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