Gardenia augusta (L.) Merrill var. ovalifolia

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Gardenia florida is commonly known in the nurseries as Cape Jasmine, and was first published by Mr. Philip Miller, from a plant which flowered in Mr. Warner’s garden, at Woodford.  It was brought from the Cape of Good Hope, by Captain Hutchinson; but it is probably, however, not a native of that country, but according to the Hortus Kewensis, of Cochinchina, China, Japan, and the South Sea Islands.

Our present variety [Gardenia florida var. ovalifolia] has been supposed to be a distinct species, and has been called Gardenia latifolia; but it appears to us that it cannot be the latifolia of Roxburgh’s Coromandel plants, but a mere variety of G. florida, with more oval leaves and somewhat smaller flowers. […] Communicated by Messrs. Whitley, Brame and Milne, in June 1822.’  [BM t.2627/1826].  

History at Camden Park

Desideratum to Loddiges Nursery, 6th January 1845 [MP A2933-2, p.28].  There are no further records and it may not have been received.

Notes

Gardenia latifolia Schlecht. ex Hook.f. (1880) = Randia dumetorum Lam. and is not Macarthur’s plant.