Common Jasmine Jasminum officinale
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jaz-MY-num uh-fiss-ih-NAY-lee
- Description
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Common jasmine is an evergreen, perennial vine in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to a wide area from Turkey through Iran and northern India to central China. The common name is Latin for “of the office or shop [of the herbalist]” and suggests that this species was, and perhaps still is, cultivated for its medicinal properties.
This vigorous plant prefers a moist, well-drained, light soil enriched with organic matter, but they tolerate average soil. Jasmine grows in full sun to partial shade and is drought and pollution tolerant. appear on old growth in the spring to the fall; the plant responds well to severe pruning after the blooms fade. This Jasmine is not cold tolerant beyond zone 7, but can be grown as a container plant and brought inside to over-winter. If grown indoors, it will require hard pruning and a trellis or support.
Common jasmine can reach as much as 40 feet and spread to as much as 15 feet. The fragrant, pink to white blooms, attractive to both butterflies and hummingbirds. Common jasmine is so fragrant that a single vine can perfume an entire garden or room.
When not cultivated in a conservatory or in the home, this species is at home in Asian, sensory, cottage, butterfly or pollinator gardens. It is a useful plant for a screening trellis, a pergola, or twining through mature shrubs.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Common jasmine has few serious insect or disease problems. Monitor for scale mealy bugs, and aphids. Houseplants are occasionally be troubled by indoor plant issues as scale or whitefly
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Retaining Wall Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Affine'
Slightly larger flowers. - 'Aureoviegatum'
golden yellow variegated foliage. - 'Frojas'
- 'Affine'
- 'Affine', 'Aureoviegatum', 'Frojas'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Affine'
Slightly larger flowers. - 'Aureoviegatum'
golden yellow variegated foliage. - 'Frojas'
- 'Affine'
- 'Affine', 'Aureoviegatum', 'Frojas'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Jasminum
- Species:
- officinale
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turky through the Trans-caucasus to southern central China
- Distribution:
- Cultivated worldwide.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is rarely seen.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths