Gardenia cornuta

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Botanical Name

Gardenia cornuta

Family

Rubiaceae - The gardenia and coffee family.

Pronunciation

gar-DEE-ni-ah kor-NEW-tah

Common Name(s)

Natal gardenia, horned gardenia; wilde-appel, Natalkatjiepiering; umhlahle, unomphumela, umvalasangweni (Zulu)

Plant Group

Shrub A woody plant of relatively low height, having several stems arising from the base and lacking a single trunk; a bush.

Plant Size

Large

Tree 18m to 25m

Shrub 3m to 4m

Perennial/ground cover 75cm to 1m

Bulb 80cm to 1.2m

Succulent 1m to 1.5m

Position

Light or Dappled Shade Found below trees with sparse, open foliage. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.

General Information

Attractive fruits, berries or seeds Brightly coloured fruits or berries increase and extend the visual impact of the plant and are especially attractive to birds and other small wildlife.
Drought Tolerance: Medium The plant is moderately adapted to arid conditions and can survive short periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
Evergreen Plants that have leaves all year round.
Fragrant / Aromatic These plants posses a strong, usually pleasant odour.
Frost: Tender A plant that will not survive any frost or low winter temperatures.
Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.

Specific Information

The perfume of the flowers, especially in the evening, will stop you in your tracks. The fruiting branches are decorative and will remain fresh in water for up to month.
Growth rate is probably faster in better conditions than mine. It has also sailed through periodic droughts with no effect other than that its size is stunted.
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Flowers

Description

long, thin trumpet opening widely with 6 lobes

Season

Summer to Autumn Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.

Colour

white

Growth Rate

Slow to Moderate Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.

Plant Uses

Accent or Focal Point A plant used to attract the attention because of its colour or form.
Attracts bees and other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
Border A strip of ground, at the edge of a driveway or path in which ornamental plants or shrubs are planted.
Boundary A plant useful for planting around the edges of the property to form a green or colourful backdrop, an impenetrable hedge, to hide walls or create privacy.
Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
Suitable for smaller gardens Such plants do not have invasive root systems, remain small or controllable and can often be grown in containers.
Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.

Ad Break

Distribution

KwaZulu-Natal, southeastern Mpumalanga, Swaziland and southern Mozambique, in bushveld, woodland, grassy plains and thicket

Planting Suggestions

This plant needs a well-drained area in a garden where the young plant can be protected from cold winds. Water moderately, bearing in mind it comes from a sub-tropical area. (In my garden it is seldom watered and has remained a shrub of just over a meter.) Add compost and mulch well.

Medicinal Uses

Traditionally, the fruit and roots are boiled and used as an emetic medicine. Wood is used for poles and fuel.

Availability