Family: Rubiaceae

The beach gardenia is a flowering tree that has a dense, upright crown. It grows up to 40 feet with a 30-foot spreading habit. White, sweet-smelling, long, tubular flowers are pollinated at night by moths. Flowering occurs year-round. Hard, globe-shaped seeds appear after flowering. Seeds are buoyant and can travel long distances in water. It has an extensive native range from Eastern Africa through tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. This tree is the national flower of the Marshall Islands. Seeds, flowers, and leaf litter are dropped in moderate amounts.

All parts of the beach gardenia are used medicinally. The leaves have many uses: disposable plates, baby wipes, toilet paper, firestarter, and hair dye. Flowers are used in lei making and for essential oil. The durable wood is used construction, crafts, canoes, and tool making.

Plant Uses:

• Lei flower
• Medicinal
• Ornamental
• Shade
• Specimen
• Woodworking

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Native in tropical climates (and could spread in Hawaiian Islands)
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Dispersed intentionally by people (ornamental use)
  
• Propagules water-dispersed (buoyant, sea currents)
  
• Propagules bird-dispersed
  
• Propagules survive passage through the gut

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized beyond native range
  
• Not a weed (garden, agricultural, or environmental)
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Palatable to grazing animals
  
• Not toxic to animals or humans
  
• Not shade tolerant
  
• Narrow soil tolerance (sandy, well-drained only)
  
• Does not form dense thickets
  
• No vegetative fragmentation (seed propagation only)
  
• Slow growth, long time to reproductive maturity
  
• Propagules not dispersed unintentionally or as contaminant
  
• Not adapted to wind dispersal
  
• No prolific seed production