Many-flowered jasmine Jasminum polyanthum
ABOUT
J. polyanthum is a strong-growing evergreen twiner to 3m or more, with dark green, pinnate leaves and axillary panicles of very fragrant, long-tubed white flowers 2cm across, opening from pink buds
About this plant
- Names
Family
Oleaceae.
Synonyms
Pink Jasmine, White Jasmine, Many-Flowered Jasmine, Polyanthus Jasmine, Chinese Jasmine.
Common names
Jasminum blinii, Jasminum delafieldii, Jasminum delavayi.
- Characteristics
Life cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
15 feet (4.57 meters)
Spread
8 feet (2.44 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
8
Native area
China
Benefits
- General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Jasminum polyanthum, commonly known as Pink Jasmine, offers abundant white flowers that are highly fragrant and attractive, enhancing the visual appeal of any garden.
- Habitat for Wildlife: Provides nectar for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, contributing to local biodiversity.
- Scented Garden: The flowers emit a strong, sweet fragrance that can perfume an entire area, creating a pleasant sensory experience.
- Shade Provider: Can be grown to form dense foliage, offering shade and cooler areas in gardens or on patios.
- Privacy Screen: When grown on trellises or fences, it serves as a natural privacy screen while also adding beauty to the space.
- Growth Habit: Its vigorous climbing habit makes it ideal for covering walls, arches, or pergolas, providing garden structure and interest.
- Easy Propagation: It can be easily propagated through cuttings, which allows gardeners to multiply their plants and share with others.
- Year-Round Interest: In milder climates, it remains evergreen throughout the year, maintaining garden interest even in winter months.
- Flexible Gardening: Suitable for container gardening, making it accessible for those with limited garden space.
- Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
- Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
- Other Uses
- Jasmine tea: Jasminum polyanthum flowers can be used to flavor tea, providing a delicate aroma and taste.
- Perfumery: The fragrant flowers of Jasminum polyanthum are sometimes used in making perfumes, giving a sweet and exotic scent to the blend.
- Aromatherapy: The essential oil derived from pink jasmine flowers can be used in aromatherapy for its calming and relaxing properties.
- Cultural significance: In some cultures, Jasminum polyanthum flowers are used in religious and ceremonial events as decorations or offerings.
- Culinary garnish: The non-toxic flowers can be used as an edible garnish for desserts and drinks, adding an elegant touch to presentations.
- Floral baths: Petals of Jasminum polyanthum can be added to bathwater for a fragrant and relaxing experience.
- Crafting and potpourri: Dried Jasminum polyanthum flowers are often used in crafting, such as potpourri mixes, for their long-lasting fragrance.
- Photography props: The attractive blooms make great subjects or props for photography, giving a natural and romantic feel to the photos.
- Horticultural grafting: Pink jasmine can be grafted onto other plants to create unique hybrid varieties and to enhance the vigor of other jasmine species.
- Scenting Natural Fabrics: Cloths and linens can be infused with the fragrance of Jasminum polyanthum by placing flowers among them while drying or storing.
Interesting Facts
- Feng Shui
Pink Jasmine is not used in Feng Shui practice.
- Zodiac Sign Compitability
Pink Jasmine is not used in astrology practice.
- Plant Symbolism
- Love: Jasmine is often associated with love. Its captivating fragrance and stunning white flowers make it a symbol of romantic emotions and affection.
- Beauty: With its delicate blooms and graceful vines, jasmine represents beauty and elegance, often used in contexts that celebrate these traits.
- Purity: The white color of Jasminum polyanthum blooms is frequently linked to purity and innocence, suggesting a sense of simplicity and virtue.
- Sensuality: The intense scent of jasmine is also tied to sensuality and can be indicative of attraction and desire.
- Femininity: In many cultures, jasmine is seen as a representation of the feminine and the divine feminine, symbolizing motherhood, womanhood, and fertility.
- Water
Pink Jasmine should be watered when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Typically, this will be about once a week, but can vary depending on environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. Use room temperature water and soak the soil thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes, which could be around a half-gallon for a medium-sized pot every watering session. During the winter months, reduce the watering to every other week or when the soil is dry a couple of inches down as growth slows down.
- Light
Pink Jasmine thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. A spot near a window that receives filtered light or a little direct morning sun followed by shade in the afternoon is ideal. Avoid placing it in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods as it can scorch the leaves.
- Temperature
Pink Jasmine prefers a moderate temperature range, ideally between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can survive minimum temperatures down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but growth will be significantly slowed. Similarly, temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit can stress the plant, so it should be kept away from heat sources.
- Pruning
Prune Pink Jasmine after it has finished blooming to maintain its shape and encourage new growth. Trimming can be done through snipping away dead or weak stems, overgrown branches, and spent flowers. The best time for pruning is late winter or early spring before the new growth starts.
- Cleaning
As needed
- Soil
Pink Jasmine thrives best in well-draining, rich, loamy soil with a preferred pH between 6.5 and 7.5. A mixture of two parts peat, one part loam, and one part sand or perlite can provide the ideal soil environment. Regular addition of organic matter will help maintain soil fertility.
- Repotting
Pink Jasmine should be repotted every two to three years in the spring. Younger, fast-growing plants may require more frequent repotting. Always choose a pot only slightly larger than the current one.
- Humidity & Misting
Pink Jasmine prefers high humidity levels, ideally between 40% to 60%. However, it is quite adaptable and can tolerate lower humidity if necessary.
- Suitable locations
Indoor
Place Pink Jasmine in bright, indirect light and ensure high humidity.
Outdoor
Grow Pink Jasmine in partial shade to full sun with shelter from harsh elements.
Hardiness zone
8-11 USDA
- Life cycle
Pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) begins its life cycle as a seed, germinating in moist, well-drained soil with adequate warmth and light. Following germination, it enters a vegetative stage, developing roots, stems, and leaves; this climber can grow rapidly and requires support. The plant matures and enters the flowering stage, typically in late winter to early spring, producing fragrant, pinkish-white flowers in clusters. After pollination by insects, the flowers may develop into small black berries, which are the fruiting stage and contain seeds for reproduction. The plant has a perennial life cycle, with the ability to live and bloom for many years if provided with necessary care, including regular pruning to maintain shape and encourage further flowering. Seasonal changes may induce dormancy in colder climates, but in optimal conditions, Jasminum polyanthum can remain evergreen throughout the year.
- Propogation
Propogation time
Spring to Summer
Propogation: Pink jasmine, also known as Jasminum polyanthum, is most commonly propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. The best time for propagation is during the growing season, typically in late spring or early summer. To propagate, choose a healthy, disease-free stem and cut a length of 4 to 6 inches using a sharp, clean pair of scissors or secateurs. The cut should be made just below a leaf node, where the concentration of growth hormones is high. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting to prevent moisture loss. The stem can then be dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth, though this step is optional. Next, place the cutting in a well-draining potting mix, ensuring that at least two nodes are buried in the soil. Covering the pot with a plastic bag can help maintain high humidity, which is beneficial for root development. The cutting should be kept in a warm, brightly lit area but out of direct sunlight to avoid scorching. Roots typically develop within several weeks, after which the new plant can be transplanted into a larger pot or outdoors if the climate is suitable.