Jasmine: How to Grow and Care for Jasmine Varieties

Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) is well known and widely cultivated for its intensely fragrant flowers. Climbing on arbors and trailing over garden walls, it adds a naturally sweet aroma to the air. Most people aren't aware that there are 200 species of jasmine plants. They are native to tropical climates in southern Europe, Asia and islands of the central and southern Pacific Ocean.

Types of Jasmine

While many plants share the common name, some are actually false jasmine. True jasmine comes from the plant family oleacea, or olive family. The group includes loose, sprawling shrubs and climbing vines. Jasmine flowers are white, pink or yellow, and their leaves are shiny and deep green.

Jasmine Vine vs. Jasmine Shrub Care

Whether you choose the jasmine shrub or vine variety, growing, caring for and propagating jasmine is virtually identical. If you are thinking of planting jasmine, here are some gardeners' favorites.

Jasmine Varieties to Try

Common Jasmine (Jasminum officinale), Evergreen Vine

• Zone: 7-10
• Height: 20' to 30'
• Spread: 7' to 15'
• Bloom Time: summer
• Bloom Description: white to pale pink flowers
• Sun: full sun to part shade
• Water: medium

Arabian Jasmine (Jasminum sambac), Evergreen Shrub

• Zone: 9-11
• Height: 4' to 5'
• Spread:4' to 5'
• Bloom Time: summer
• Bloom Description: white flowers
• Sun: full sun to part shade
• Water: medium

Pink Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), Evergreen Vine

• Zone: 8-11
• Height: 20' to 25'
• Spread: 10' to 15'
• Bloom Time: early spring to mid summer
• Bloom Description: pink buds open to white flowers
• Sun: full to partial sun
• Water: medium

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), Deciduous Vine

• Zone: 6-10
• Height: 10' to 15'
• Spread: 3' to 6'
• Bloom Time: late winter to early spring
• Bloom Description: yellow flowers
• Sun: full sun to part shade
• Water: medium

Florida Jasmine (Jasminum floridum), Semi-evergreen Shrub

• Zone: 7-9
• Height: 3' to 4'
• Spread: 4' to 6'
• Bloom Time: spring and summer
• Bloom Description: yellow flowers
• Sun: full sun to part shade
• Water: medium

How to Use Jasmine

Plant jasmine where you can best enjoy its wonderful scent. The trailing varieties make good ground cover plants. Allow shrubby types to sprawl and spill over walls or banks, or loosely attach to fences. Tie climbers to posts, arbors or trellises —especially near outdoor seating areas or around windows. Jasmine also makes a good pollinator plant, as it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

How to Grow Jasmine

Plant jasmine in full to partial sunlight, in well-drained soil of average fertility. Keep it evenly moist. It grows well as a container plant outdoors, or in well-lit indoor locations. Several varieties will tolerate low light, but they bloom less in low light conditions.

Propagating Jasmine

In summer, take 6-inch cuttings from branch tips of a vigorous jasmine plant. Remove the leaves from the bottom 4 inches of the cuttings, and dip them into rooting hormone. Jab the cuttings into damp sand or vermiculite, spaced 2' to 4' apart, and cover with plastic. Keep the cuttings in a warm bright location, out of direct sunlight. After 4 to 5 weeks, check for root development. When roots have developed, transplant rooted cuttings to individual 4-inch containers with potting soil.

How to Care for Jasmine

When planted outdoors, in the ground or in containers, jasmine plants have few pests or diseases. Give them plenty of sunshine and adequate water and they will prosper.

Jasmine As Houseplants

If you keep them as houseplants, watch out for insect pests. Scale, mealybugs and whitefly sometimes become problematic. Insect infestations almost always result from stressed plants. Give your indoor jasmine plants as much sunlight as possible and be careful not to overwater.

Pruning

Prune jasmine plants after flowering. Established climbing plants that are attached to supports should be cut back to the post, trellis or arbor to maintain a full, tidy appearance.