any of a genus (Gardenia) of chiefly subtropical Old World plants of the madder family, with glossy leaves and highly fragrant, white or yellow, waxy flowers
See gardenia in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(gär-dēnˈyə)
noun In both senses also called Cape jasmine.
Any of various shrubs and trees of the Old World tropics that belong to the genus Gardenia, especially G. jasminoides native to China, having glossy evergreen leaves and large, fragrant, usually white flowers.