Callus was initiated from immature ovary portion of flower ofGardenia jasminoidesEllis on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (1962) supplemented with 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2 mgl−1) and kinetin (0.5 mgl−1). Callus on subculture onto MS medium, with reduced nitrate and phosphate levels and supplemented with indole‐3‐butyric acid (1 mgl−1) and kinetin (1 mgl−1) induced yellowish pigmented callus when incubated in dark at 25+2° C. The extracts of yellowish callus when analysed by TLC and HPLC showed the presence of crocin and crocetins. Both crocin and crocetins were at low levels inGardeniacallus as compared toGardeniafruit or Saffron stigma.