"You kept me waiting! I'm Eterna's Gym Leader, Gardenia, the Grass-type master! When I first saw you, I was convinced you'd find your way to me. My hunch was right on the money. You have a winning aura about you. So, anyway, this will be fun. Let's have our battle."
Gardenia (ナタネ Natane) serves as the Gym Leader for Eterna City. Gardenia specializes in Grass-type Pokémon, and holds the Forest Badge for the trainers that defeat her. She is also known as a "Master of Vivid Plant Pokémon." She loves Grass-Type Pokémon and as such, has a lot of plants in her gym. Gardenia is also a expert on Grass-Type Pokémon.
Gardenia first appeared in the first Generation IV games as the Eterna CityGym Leader, specializing in Grass Pokémon. The player first meets her in Eterna Forest, outside of the mansion. Her Gym is filled with plants, and trainers that challenge her must search for and find all of the Gym members before they can face her. Upon defeating her, she will reward the player with the Forest Badge and TM86 (Grass Knot).
Gardenia first appeared DP031: The Grass-Type Is Always Greener! in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl anime series. She was shown to have a slight obsession with Grass-type Pokémon, as she quickly commented and interacted with other people's Grass Pokémon, including Team Rocket's. Also during this episode, Gardenia had a small battle with Ash, where she unveiled her own Turtwig and used it against Ash's. Despite her stay with Ash and his friends, Gardenia had not yet revealed herself as the Eterna City Gym Leader. Just like in the games, Ash and his friends meet Gardenia in Eterna Forest.
Awarding Ash with his Forest Badge.
After a short absence, Gardenia later appeared in A Secret Sphere of Influence!, where she revealed herself to be the Gym Leader. In The Grass Menagerie!, Gardenia battled Ash using her Cherubi, Turtwig, and Roserade. While there was some struggle on Ash's part, he managed to win, defeating her Roserade with his Aipom. Upon leaving, Gardenia rewarded Ash with a Forest Badge.
Gardenia returned in Once There Were Greenfields, where she battled Ash and Dawn in a double battle she organized, with James as her partner. After the battle, Gardenia took James's Cacnea, with his permission, in order to train it, so it can master Drain Punch
In the manga[]
Pokemon Adventures[]
Diamond and Pearl Arc[]
She battled against Platinum and lost, giving her the Forest Badge. She alone appears in Chapter 4 where she attacked Pearl because she assumed she was with Team Galactic. When Gardenia found out he wasn't with Team Galactic she apologised. Then she states that Team Galactic has been causing in the Eterna Forest and Eterna City.
Cherubi was first seen battling Staravia in a mock battle. It was quickly withdrawn. In the official gym battle it was defeated after a tough battle by Staravia.
Gardenia's name is based on the word garden for her love of grass Pokémon or it could be an abbreviation of gardening or a reference to the flower, Gardenia.
In the game, she has a fear of Ghost Type Pokémon. She says " What if there is a Ghost/Grass Pokémon?" This has not yet happened, as Rotom Mow form, as of Generation V, loses its Ghost-typing to become an Electric/Grass Pokémon.
