Jasmine – Shrubs and Vines: Grown for the fragrance of their flowers
There are more than 200 species of Jasmine. They are grown as an ornamental plant and known for their fragrance. Jasmine flowers carry an intoxicating fragrance. The plants have an exotic appeal with starry white flowers and shiny leaves. Jasmine plants can be grown indoors or outdoors and grow fairly easily.
Quick Details for Jasmine
| Common Jasmine Species | Common Jasmine Indian Jasmine/Needle Flower Jasmine Arabian Jasmine/Grand Duke of Tuscany (Mongra) Night Blooming Jasmine / Raat Ki Rani |
| Type | Indoor/Outdoor Flowering Ornamental Plant depending on species |
| Maintenance | Low/Moderate |
| Flowering | All around the year depending on species |
| Light | Bright Direct Light |
| Water | Normal |
| Temperature | Can survive the harsh climate up to an extent |
| Soil | Any well-drained potting soil |
| Fertilizer | Any house plant fertilizer like Compost, Potassium based fertilizers |
| Habitat | Eurasia, Australia depending on Species |
| Toxicity | NIL |
| Common Diseases | Blight, Rust, Fusarium wilt, Aphid Attack |
Overview of Jasmine
They are deciduous or evergreen shrubs belonging to the family of Oleaceae.
There are almost 200 species of jasmine found in areas of tropical and subtropical Australia, Eurasia, and Oceania. They are either climbing or erect shrubs and vines. The stems are thick and mostly brown in color with leaves arranged in a pennant arrangement. The flowers are mostly white in color some may also be yellow or have a tint of red. The flowers are borne in cymose clusters with a minimum of three flowers, though they can also be solitary on the ends of branchlets. Each flower has about four to nine petals, two locules, and one to four ovules. They are grown as an ornamental as well as a commercial plant. They are famous for their showy flowers and fragrance. The shrubs are mostly grown outdoors.The climbers spread and grow easily and adds beauty to the place along with providing a sweet pleasant scent.
Special About Jasmine
The flowers of the jasmine plant are of commercial, ornamental and cultural importance. The flowers produce a pleasant fragrance which is also used in aromatherapy. The jasmine plants grown indoors can act as a natural room freshener.
Uses of Jasmine Plants/Flowers
- Used for making jasmine tea
- Used in the fragrance industry
- The flowers are worn by women in their heads.
- The flower is used for making medicines
- It is used as an aphrodisiac and to relieve stress
- It is used as a flavor for food.
- Used in the cosmetic industry.
- Used in decorations.
Jasmine General Care
Soil: the plant should be grown in a well-drained and moist soil. They prefer a moderately fertilized sandy loamy soil.
Water: the jasmine plants grown in pots should be watered regularly whereas the ones that are grown in the ground can be watered ones in a week. Care should be taken to see that the soil does not have excess moisture content. It is advisable to stop watering in between to let the soil dry.
Support: some of the species of jasmines are climbers and vines. These plants should be provided with support as it grows. They can also be let to grow on fences and trellis. In such cases, the young stem should be trained to hold on to these structures and grow around them.
Light: they can grow both indoors and outdoors. They require a good amount of direct sunlight. In the summer flowering plants, the flowering takes place usually in the summers and prefers to be kept in places with an ample amount of sunlight. Whereas the plants that flower during winters should be kept in shady places. They require a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight in the case of summer flowering plants and around 2-4 hours for the winter flowering plants.
Pruning: the prune jasmines are said to flower faster. The pruning is done for the stems that are spread farther away from the plants and the stems and leaves that have been infected or destroyed. The regular pruning of jasmine can help in increasing the lush, foliage, and early flowering of the plant.
Fertilizer: Any common house plant fertilizer can be used for jasmine plants. The plants grown in-ground can be provided with fertilizer during spring just before any new growth is seen. The potted plants should be fertilized twice a year.
Pest Control and Other Problems
The plant is not prone to many pests or infections. But sometimes they can be attacked by aphids. However, the indoor Jasmines are prone to pests like mealybug and red spider. The plants can be sprayed with a pesticide or insecticide or neem oil to get rid of the insects and pests.
Some of the common diseases caused are Fusarium wilt, blight, and rust. these mostly affect the leaves and stem which causes the areas to show discolored halos or patches, wilted leaves, and streaked stems
Control: the fungal diseases can be controlled by the use of any fungicide or by the spraying of neem oil.
Propagation of Jasmine:
Cutting: The propagation takes place through stem cuttings. The stem cuttings are made directly below the leaves and should be 6 inches long. The best time for propagation is between June to October. In rare cases, the seeds are also used.
Layering: Layering is done at different periods for different areas. in North India, it is during June-July, and in South India from June to December. The one-year-old shoot is selected and buried into the soil after making a shallow, slanting cut 15 cm deep in the portion to be buried.
