Jasminum officinaleCommon Jasmine

The Jasminum officinale, commonly known as the Common Jasmine or Poet's Jasmine, is a vigorous twining climber from the Caucasus, Iran, the Himalaya and western China. Fine pinnate leaves clothe slender green stems, and clusters of pure white star-shaped flowers open from pink buds through spring and summer, carrying an intense evening fragrance.

It is one of the most strongly scented climbers in cultivation and it will cover a pergola, screen or trellis quickly once established. It is used on pergolas, entrance screens, courtyard walls and shaded seating structures.

Specifications

• Height4 to 8 metres as a climber, depending entirely on the support provided
• Width2 to 4 metres
• Native toThe Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, the Himalaya and western China
• FoliageFine pinnate leaves with pointed leaflets in fresh green on slender twining stems; semi-evergreen in warm climates
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers well-drained loamy or sandy soils with reasonable organic content; tolerates alkaline ground
• LightFull sun to partial shade, with the heaviest flowering in full sun
• WaterModerate; needs reliable irrigation through establishment and performs best where water is available
• ClimateThrives in Mediterranean, subtropical and warm temperate regions; needs shelter from the harshest desert exposure

Additional Features

• FlowersClusters of pure white star-shaped flowers opening from pink buds, through spring and summer
• UsesPergolas and shade structures, entrance and courtyard screens, trellis and wall planting, shaded seating areas
• SpacingPlant 2 to 3 metres apart along a pergola or screen line
• Low MaintenancePrune after flowering to control size and remove tangled old growth; tie in to the support while young
• Pest ResistanceGenerally robust, with sap-sucking insects the only common issue in still, humid positions
• FragranceIntensely fragrant, strongest in the evening, and the principal reason the species is specified
• VersatilityTrains equally as a pergola climber, a wall-trained screen or a spilling plant over a raised edge
• Wildlife AttractionEvening-scented flowers draw moths and other night-flying pollinators

The Common Jasmine is grown for its scent, and it should be planted where people sit in the evening rather than where they merely walk past.