Jasmine

How to care for Jasmine

Light

Jasminum polyanthum requires a position in bright light to flower well. A south- or west-facing windowsill is ideal for much of the year. In summer, some direct sun is beneficial but very intense afternoon sun through glass can scorch the foliage; light shading during the hottest weeks is advisable. Insufficient light is the most common reason the plant fails to set flower buds.

Watering

Water regularly and thoroughly during the growing season (spring through summer), allowing the top centimetre or so of compost to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in autumn and winter, keeping the compost just barely moist. The plant dislikes both waterlogged roots and prolonged drought; either will cause leaf drop. Use room-temperature water and avoid letting the pot sit in a saucer of standing water.

Soil and potting

A free-draining, loam-based compost such as John Innes No. 2 with added grit or perlite (roughly 1 part grit to 3 parts compost) is ideal. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Avoid heavy, peat-only composts that retain excessive moisture. A slightly acidic to neutral pH of around 6.0 to 7.0 suits this species well.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks from spring through to late summer to support vigorous growth. As flower buds begin to develop, switching to a high-potassium feed (such as a tomato fertiliser) can encourage more prolific blooming. Do not feed during autumn and winter when the plant is resting.

Humidity and temperature

Jasminum polyanthum performs best in cool to moderate temperatures and actually requires a cool period in autumn and early winter (around 5 to 10 C) to initiate flower-bud formation. Keeping it in a heated living room throughout winter is a common reason it fails to bloom the following season. A cool bedroom, unheated porch or conservatory is ideal from October to January. It tolerates average household humidity but appreciates occasional misting during warm, dry spells indoors.

Repotting

Repot every two to three years in spring, moving up one pot size at a time. Jasminum polyanthum actually blooms more freely when slightly root-bound, so do not be in a hurry to move it into a larger container. When repotting, gently tease out any circling roots and refresh the compost. A heavy, stable pot is advisable as the plant can become top-heavy when trained on a hoop or trellis.

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering, typically in late spring, cutting back flowered stems by one-third to one-half. This encourages the production of vigorous new growth, which will carry the following season's flowers. Remove any dead, weak or overcrowded stems at the same time. The plant grows rapidly and will quickly become untidy without regular trimming; also train new stems onto a support hoop or trellis as they develop.

Is Jasmine toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Semi-ripe cuttings

Take 10 to 15 cm stem-tip cuttings in summer, removing the lower leaves and dipping the cut end in rooting hormone powder. Insert into a mix of equal parts perlite and compost, cover loosely with a clear plastic bag to retain humidity, and place in a warm position with bright indirect light. Roots typically form within four to six weeks.

Layering

In spring or summer, select a long, flexible stem and pin it down into a pot of moist compost whilst still attached to the parent plant, nicking the stem slightly at the point of contact to encourage rooting. Once roots have formed (usually after several weeks), sever the new plant from the parent.

Where Jasmine comes from

Native to southern China, northern Myanmar.

Story and origins

The genus name Jasminum derives from the Persian 'yasamin' or Arabic 'yasmin', meaning jasmine or a fragrant flower, which passed into Latin via medieval Arabic trade routes. The species epithet polyanthum comes from the Greek words 'polys' (many) and 'anthos' (flower), together meaning 'many-flowered', which accurately describes the plant's characteristic of producing large panicles of numerous small blossoms.

Jasminum polyanthum is native to the Yunnan province of China and to Myanmar (Burma), where it grows in scrub and woodland margins at altitude. It was collected and described botanically in the late nineteenth century and introduced to European horticulture, where it gained rapid popularity as a conservatory and pot plant because of its extraordinary floriferousness and powerful scent. Jasmine has long held cultural significance across Asia and the Middle East as a symbol of love, purity and good fortune, and while J. polyanthum is a more recently cultivated species than the ancient J. sambac or J. officinale, it has benefited from the same widespread romantic association with the genus as a whole. It is now one of the best-selling flowering houseplants in the UK, particularly around Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

Varieties to know

Jasminum polyanthum 'Pink Form'

A selection with distinctly deeper pink buds and a slightly more compact habit; the flowers open to a pale blush-white.

Jasminum polyanthum (standard species)

The species as commonly sold is itself the most widely available form; named cultivars are relatively scarce in commercial horticulture.

Fun facts

• A single established plant of Jasminum polyanthum can produce hundreds of flowers in a single season, with the fragrance strong enough to scent an entire room.
• The species epithet 'polyanthum' is derived from Greek, meaning 'many-flowered', a direct reference to the plant's exceptionally prolific blooming habit.
• Jasminum polyanthum was introduced to Western cultivation from China in the 1890s and became popular as a houseplant in Europe during the twentieth century.
• The plant requires a distinct cool period of around 6 to 8 weeks at temperatures below 10 C to reliably set flower buds, which is why plants bought in flower from a garden centre often do not repeat-bloom if kept in a warm centrally heated home.
• Despite being sold year-round, Jasminum polyanthum is naturally a late-winter to spring bloomer; plants sold in flower at other times of year have been commercially forced.

Jasmine FAQ