Common Jasmine Plants

Jasminum officinale

Jasminum officinale, common Jasmine, is a lovely vigorous deciduous climber with delicate pinnate dark green foliage and large clusters of pretty, heavily scented white flowers from summer to early autumn.

It prefers a well drained soil but is not particular about pH and can cope with long dry spells. It is tender but, if planted in a sunny, sheltered spot, on a south or south-west facing wall, it will survive quite cold winters. Spreading in all directions quite quickly, it will need hard pruning to remove dead and overcrowded stems.

Browse our variety of jasmine plants or our full range of climbers.

Features:

• Deciduous arching stems
• Fast growth to 12m at maturity
• Heavily scented white flowers in summer
• Slightly tender
• Pretty, dark green pinnate leaves

Great for your garden:

Jasmine is a really beautiful climber that is perfect for growing in a sheltered sunny site where the delicious sweetly perfumed flowers can be enjoyed all summer.

It is vigorous and quickly grows to 12m and will cover a porch, an arch, a shed or a tree stump with lovely pinnate dark green leaves and large quantities of white flower clusters. It associates well with climbing roses, clematis and honeysuckle but is equally attractive as a specimen.

It can survive quite long dry spells and needs well-drained soil so will do very well planted against a wall. If growing the climber in a small garden it is best to plant it in a large pot that will keep the growth within bounds.

Did You Know?

Wild Jasmine doesn't hold a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit herself, but three of her daughters do, and Jasmine has the same strong growing qualities, meaning that this is an easy and reliable plant for any gardener.

It was mentioned in ancient Chinese texts, and first recorded in William Turner's The Name of Herbes in London in 1548, by which time it was grown "communely in gardines bout London". It is commonly found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia and Africa.

It is the national flower of Pakistan and used extensively in India where it is of cultural and religious significance and used in the celebration of marriages and during festivals. Jasmine vendors can be seen all over India outside of temples, in the streets and around business centres selling large bunches of the sweet smelling flowers. It is, of course, used in the far East for making Jasmine Tea when the flowers are processed with green or white tea for days until the tea takes on the delicious scent.

The flowers are also used for the production of aromatherapy oil, called the 'King of Oils' it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

How to grow Jasminum 'Officinale':

• If planting against a wall, dig a hole approximately 12" away from the wall itself.
• In all situations make the hole a little larger than the rootball.
• Backfill around the roots with good compost mixed with a handful of bonemeal.
• Firm in and water well.
• Keep the plant well watered until established but ensure that the roots do not get waterlogged.
• Prune hard in late winter / early spring, and trim after flowering.

Look out for:

It is disease and pest free but may suffer wind damage and overcrowding of stems. It should be pruned hard just after flowering when any dead wood can be removed and the stems thinned.

Note: If growing Jasmine in a pot, it should be fed regularly during the growing season with a high potash food such as Tomorite. In the garden a general purpose fertiliser once or twice a season will be adequate.