Medicinal Flowers -- Home Cultivation and Medicinal and Edible Uses

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Publish Date: 2006-07-26
Features: Gardenia belongs to the Rubiaceae family and the Gardenia genus, being an evergreen shrub or small tree native to southern provinces along the Yangtze River basin in China. Common cultivated ornamental varieties include large gardenia, oval-leaf gardenia, narrow-leaf gardenia, and variegated-leaf gardenia. They bloom in early summer, with beautiful, elegant, and fragrant flowers that are deeply enchanting. Wild mountain gardenia is often referred to as "Yue Tao" in many regions. It blooms profusely in midsummer and sets fruit in autumn, with lush green leaves and exquisite flowers, emitting a captivating fragrance. Countless cultural figures throughout history have created poetry and paintings featuring gardenia. Liu Yuxi once praised it in a poem: "The flowers of Shu have all faded, but Yue Tao blooms anew. Its hue resembles jade leaning against a tree, its fragrance seems to come from the celestial realm." The poet elevated the status of gardenia to an unparalleled height: "Among all trees, gardenia stands out. In the mortal world, none can match its worth. Its color is useful for the body, and its essence harmonizes with the Dao. Red from wind and frost, green from rain and dew. Unmoved, you are transplanted, precious in reflecting the river's waves." Generally, elegant and fragrant flowers easily evoke the image of pure and holy love, and gardenia, with its ability to "bear seeds of unity," is no exception. "A handful of fragrant gardenia can be given to a loved one, or a friend. Its ice-clear petals not only bear vows of love but also the friendship of distant companions." Regarding "gardenia of unity," there is a famous line in Song poetry: "With gardenia of one heart, I shall repay you with a hundred tangled lilacs." Gardenia and lilac, both renowned flowers, are entangled in countless emotions, twisting the poet's heart and leaving readers sighing in admiration.
There are many legends about the naming of gardenia. Some say its fruit resembles ancient wine vessels called "mo gu," hence the name. The book "Three Surpluses" mentions that "Zeng Duanbo considered gardenia his Zen companion." The Southern Song poet Xie Lingyun wrote, "Lin Zhi, near snow in elegance," referring to gardenia as "Lin Zhi." Some records state that gardenia was named "mo," appearing in Buddhist scriptures. Legend has it that it was brought from India, leading to Chen Chun of the Ming Dynasty saying, "Mo holds exquisite fragrance, coming from India." Gardenia flowers have the ability to resist smoke, dust, and toxic gases. Where gardenia is planted, the air feels fresh and clean. It is suitable for garden arrangements, household potted plants, or creating gardenia. P008-009