Pavetta gardeniifolia is a deciduous shrub with a mature height of 3m and a spread of 2m. The genus name Pavetta comes from ‘pawetta’, a word in Sinhalese (a language in Sri Lanka) for a small tree found along the Malabar coast in India. ‘Gardeniifolia’ (in Latin) describes its leaves, which are said to look like those of the Gardenia plant. It produces a large number of creamy-white nectar-rich flowers with a sweet fragrance at Christmas time hence the common name ‘Christmas bride’s bush’.

Pavetta gardeniifolia has a light brown bark with a smooth or slightly fissured texture. Its crown has a compact, rounded shape and remains evergreen to semi-deciduous, depending on the prevailing climate. This shrub allows other plants to grow underneath its canopy. It’s tough and does well in shady spots when you first plant it, but as it gets older, it likes full sunlight even more.

You can grow this shrub as a standout feature in your garden, whether in a dry rockery, shrubbery, or even in a pot. It adds colour and scent to your garden during summer and attracts birds, making it a lovely addition. This tree is fairly frost-hardy and pest-free, it likes a moderate amount of water, sun, or minimum shade.