Jasminum Officinale, or common jasmine, is a shrub or small tree that grows to a height of 7 metres and has purple flowers. The plant is native to parts of Asia, but its use as an ingredient in perfumes and incense has spread across continents. Jasminum Officinale extract, or jasmine oil, is one of the most popular fragrances in the world. It has been used for centuries to produce perfumes for both men and women, as well as incense.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Jasminum officinale, known as the common jasmine or simply jasmine, is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native to the Caucasus and parts of Asia, also widely naturalized.
It is also known as summer jasmine, poet’s jasmine, white jasmine, true jasmine or jessamine, and is particularly valued by gardeners throughout the temperate world for the intense fragrance of its flowers in summer. It is also the National flower of Pakistan.
Jasminum officinale is a vigorous, twining deciduous climber with sharply pointed pinnate leaves and clusters of starry, pure white flowers in summer, which are the source of its heady scent. The leaf has 5 to 9 leaflets.
J. officinale has been found to contain alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, emodine, leucoanthocyanins, steroids, anthocyanins, phlobatinins, essential oil and saponins.
Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, often with variegated foliage. The cultivar ‘Argenteovariegatum’, with cream-white variegation on the leaves, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Common jasmine flourishes in either full sun or partial shade (between 2-6 hours of sunlight per day). In most cases, it produces more abundant flowers with more sunlight. Interestingly, indoor plants benefit from periods outdoors during warmer weather to receive regular direct sunlight. You can take them out now and then for some sun.
Temperature
Slightly warmer, humid climates are good for common jasmine to thrive. Best with temperatures between 15 to 25 ℃. However, varieties should be chosen relative to local conditions. After the first bloom, many varieties can tolerate lower temperatures; however, these should not fall below 5 ℃. For common jasmine planted indoors, ensuring temperatures remain within these limits will help flowers bloom more quickly in spring and remain on the plant longer.
The root systems of common jasmine prefer slightly drier soil. It doesn’t thrive well in overly moist soil, particularly if grown as a houseplant. The soil should be allowed to dry out between watering. Too much or too little moisture may cause the delicate petals and flowers to turn yellow or brown.
Watering
As stated above, common jasmine prefers drier rather than wet, soggy soils, so overwatering should be avoided. Whilst the new plant is getting established, water once a week, or when the top 3 cm of soil has dried out. Don’t water more than twice a week. Watering can be combined with fertilization, which will help the fertilizer reach the roots.
Soil
Common jasmine generally tolerates a wide range of different soils, as long as the soil is sufficiently well-drained with neutral pH. If the soil is lacking in nutrients and organic matter, it should be amended with a 5 cm layer of compost. If planting in a container, the potting mix should contain equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and sand. However, preference for soil type (sandy, loamy or clay) depends on the variety.
Fertilizing
To promote blossoms, use a fertilizer that rich in phosphorous, such as 7-9-5 (7 parts nitrogen, 9 parts phosphorous and 5 parts potassium). Fertilize your common jasmine in spring and summer. The nitrogen helps ensure rich, green leaves, while phosphorous aids the development of blooms, and potassium supports the growth of strong roots and improved resistance to pests and disease. Specific fertilizers for common jasmine are available in stores.
To apply fertilizer, pour water containing the fertilizer around the base of the plant. Depending on manufacturer recommendations, the amount of fertilizer mixed in the water should be halved for indoor plants. Replace a regular watering session in this way when the plant is in need of fertilization.
Planting Instructions
pPlant or repot common jasmine in fall. Planting it where it enjoy more sunlight and moist soil will ensure better bloom. When planting, the root system should be installed at the same height as the level inside the nursery pot. Keep 2.5 m between each plant for better growth. A support structure will be needed for vine varieties to help them reach their maximum height of 5 m and to ensure the plant does not droop or trail along the ground.
Pruning
Once common jasmine has flowered, prune gently to help the plant conserve energy for new growth and to give new growth time to mature for the following year. When pruning, cut back stems that have flowered to a strong side-shoot. Branches or stems which have crossed over or are misplaced can be removed, as well as any weak or damaged stems.
Propagation
Common jasmine can be cultivated from cuttings. Cut directly below a strong, healthy leaf and aim for 15 cm in length. After removing any unwanted leaves at the base of the cutting and dipping in rooting hormone, plant the cutting in a planter. The soil should contain some sand to help drainage, being moist but not soggy.
Overwintering
Though common jasmine is tolerant to cold conditions and winter frost, there are precautions that can be taken to protect it during the winter. Pruning at the end of the season helps ensure that the plant receives sufficient light when sunlight hours are reduced, and if the plant is showing ill-health during the winter, its stems can be cut back to roughly 20 cm above ground height to provide it with the energy it needs for the following year’s growth. In particularly cold weather, cover common jasmine with an enclosure made from plastic.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
Common jasmine’s fragrant, early summer blooming flowers bring a delightful scent and floral display to coastal and Mediterranean gardens. You can train this fast-growing plant as a vine to cover walls or arbors or let it sprawl under other shrubs or trees as a fragrant groundcover.
With such an amazing fragrance, these plants are the most effective natural air purifiers that you can have, especially indoors. A soothing smell wafting through the air neutralizes the odor, eliminating the foul smell as well.
- Medicinal uses
Due to its antiseptic properties and the presence of benzyl benzoate, benzoic acid, and benzaldehyde, jasmine is a natural wound healer.
- Culinary uses
Weight management can be achieved by adding tender jasmine flowers to tea. It is possible to speed up your metabolism by boiling a few flowers with tea leaves in hot water and then drinking it three times a day.
- Cosmetic uses
The essential oil of Jasminum officinale is used in aromatherapy. Jasmine absolute has a heavy, sweet scent valued by perfumers. The flowers release their perfume at dusk, so flowers are picked at night and a tiny amount of oil is obtained from each blossom by solvent extraction. The result is an expensive oil which can be used in low concentrations.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Common jasmine generally blooms in spring and summer, and the flowers are always full of aroma. Picking flowers for home flower arrangements can also promote blooming. Long tendrils of vine varieties can bring movement and romance. Be sure to pick blooms before the buds are fully opened. Cut in the morning or evening, when they are most hydrated. Prune the base of branches at an angle of 45 degrees to increase the water absorption area, and place it in a vase with water quickly. Common jasmine can live in a vase about a week.
