Scientific Name
Jasminum officinale L.
Common Name(s)
Common Jasmine, Jasmine, Summer Jasmine, Poet's Jasmine, White Jasmine, True Jasmine, Jessamine
Synonym(s)
Jasminum officinale var. officinale, Jasminum affine, Jasminum viminale, Jasminum vulgatius
Scientific Classification
Family: Oleaceae
Tribe: Jasmineae
Genus: Jasminum
Flower
Color: White
Bloom Time: Summer
Description
Jasminum officinale is a vigorous twining deciduous climber with pinnate, sharply pointed leaves and clusters of starry pure white flowers that appear in summer. Gardeners adore it for its vigorous habit, graceful look, and heavenly fragrance. Blooming continues all summer until frost.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 7a to 10b: from 0 °F (−17.8 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Jasmine is a fairly flexible plant when it comes to sun and soil. It can flourish in full sun or partial shade, and it can be planted in well-draining sandy loam or considerably clayey garden soil. Jasmine plants should get plenty of sunlight, but they should be kept out of direct mid-day sun if possible. Working compost like moldy leaves into the soil and fertilizing lightly once a year in the spring is helpful. If growing indoors, make sure that Jasmine receives at least 4 hours in a window that gets full sunlight in the winter.
Because of their fast growth, make sure you space Jasmine bushes out considerably. Plant Jasmine from June to November, with at least 8 feet (2.4 m) of spacing between bushes. For indoor container planting, start in the autumn. Young plants may need support from staking.
Fertilize Jasmine with fertilizer higher in potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Jasmine Plants.
Origin
This species is native to the Caucasus, northern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalayas, Tajikistan, India, Nepal, and western China.
Links
- Back to genus Jasminum
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.