Jasmine Aromas: Choosing The Right Fragrant Blooms

Jasmine is a fragrant flower that is commonly associated with its sweet, romantic scent. While jasmine is typically a vine that is grown outdoors, some varieties can also be kept as houseplants. The Jasminum genus contains over 200 vines and shrubs, some of which are more aromatic than others. When choosing a jasmine plant to buy for its aroma, there are several fragrant varieties to consider, including Common Jasmine, Spanish Jasmine, Primrose Jasmine, Angel Wing Jasmine, Arabian Jasmine, Crape Jasmine, and Pink Jasmine. These plants produce star-shaped or clustered white or yellow flowers that release a heady fragrance. The intense aroma of jasmine has been used for centuries in perfumes, and it is also a popular ingredient in food and drinks, such as tea, alcohol, sweets, and desserts.

Angel Wing Jasmine: low, sprawling growth, ideal for pots and containers

Angel Wing Jasmine, or Jasminum nitidum, is a beautiful, fragrant choice for your garden. This jasmine variety is ideal for pots and containers, especially those in sunny spots, as it grows in a low, sprawling vine-like habit. It is a shrubby, evergreen plant with a dense, multi-stemmed structure and a twining and trailing growth habit.

The Angel Wing Jasmine is a stunning, sweetly-scented plant that will grow to about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It produces an abundance of large, fragrant, white flowers with purple undersides. These flowers, which emerge from distinctive Indian red buds, are excellent for cutting. The blooms typically open at night, with a long flowering season from spring through to late summer. The Angel Wing Jasmine also has attractive, glossy, narrow, deep green foliage that remains throughout the winter.

This variety of jasmine is a good choice for containers and hanging baskets due to its spreading growth habit. It is ideally suited as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination. It can be planted near the edges of containers, where it will gracefully spill over the pot. It can also be grown alone in a suitable container, or used as a filler between shrubs.

Angel Wing Jasmine is a fairly low-maintenance plant. It requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant, but container plants may need to be watered weekly during hot weather. It should be fertilised in the spring to maintain healthy growth and produce abundant flowers. Pruning is recommended after flowering to avoid removing the current season's flowers.

Arabian Jasmine: tropical species with thick, glossy leaves and small white flowers

The Arabian jasmine is a tropical species native to Southeast Asia. Known botanically as Jasminum sambac, it is the national plant of the Philippines and one of the three national plants of Indonesia. It is a fast-growing evergreen climbing shrub with dark green, glossy oval leaves that can reach three inches in length. The stems of the plant are downy and the leaves are arranged oppositely or alternately in a simple, trifoliate, or pinnate formation.

The flowers of the Arabian jasmine are small, waxy, and white, with a diameter of about one inch. They are strongly scented and develop in cymes or clusters of 3-12 blooms at the end of the stems. As the flowers mature, they turn light pink and then yellowish-brown. The plant can be grown as a mounded shrub or a vine, and it prefers full sun to partial shade, with ideal temperatures for flowering between 80-90°F (27°-32°C) during the day and 70-80° (21°-27°C) at night.

Arabian jasmine thrives in warm, tropical climates and is very susceptible to frost. It requires regular watering to keep the soil moist, and it prefers loose, loamy, humusy soil that is well-drained. Fertilizing the plant regularly during the growing season and pruning it to maintain the desired shape are also important for its care.

Propagating Arabian jasmine is typically done through cuttings. To do this, cut a stem that is around six inches long, remove the leaves from the lower half, dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, and place it into moist soil. Covering the cutting with a plastic bag can help retain moisture until roots form, which usually takes about six weeks.

Overall, the Arabian jasmine is a beautiful and fragrant addition to any garden or patio, and with the right care, it can bloom throughout the year.

Common Jasmine: also known as Poet's Jasmine, native to Asia, with starry white flowers

Common Jasmine, also known as Poets Jasmine, is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native to the Caucasus and parts of Asia, and has been widely naturalized in other parts of the world. Common Jasmine is a deciduous vine with clusters of starry, pure-white flowers that bloom all summer. It has a rich, green, pinnate leaf with five to nine leaflets, each up to 2.5 inches long. The flowers are a source of its intense fragrance and are up to 1 inch in diameter.

Common Jasmine is a vigorous, twining climber that can grow up to 20 feet tall and is hardy to zone 7. It grows well on large pergolas, fences, or very large trellises. It can also be pruned as a shrub near the house or along walkways so that its intense fragrance can be enjoyed by passersby. The vine grows vigorously, at a rate of 1 to 2 feet per year, and is relatively problem-free, pest-free, and disease-free.

The essential oil derived from the white flowers of Common Jasmine, also known as Jasminum officinale, is believed to have originated in Iran but can now be found in tropical climates. The oil has a sweet, romantic fragrance and has been used in some of the world's best-known perfumes, including Chanel No. 5. It is also a common ingredient in alcohol, sweets, and desserts.

Jasmine oil has been found to offer a number of health benefits, including reducing depressive symptoms, increasing alertness and energy levels, and improving mood. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac and to treat infections and wounds.

Crape Jasmine: among the most ornamental species, with large, white blooms

Crape Jasmine, also known as Tabernaemontana divaricata, is a highly ornamental species that produces an abundance of exquisite, sweet-smelling flowers. These flowers, which resemble miniature roses, are white and ruffled, with a shape that has been likened to a pinwheel. The blooms are particularly prominent during the warmer months, but they stand out against the dark green, glossy evergreen leaves all year round.

Crape Jasmine is a shrub that can be used as a hedge or a specimen plant, but it is at its best when grown as a small tree. It typically reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet and spreads 3 to 6 feet. This plant is a moderate grower and thrives in full to partial sun, though it prefers partial shade and will flower in these conditions. It is moderately cold-hardy, doing best in Zone 10A and the warmer areas of Zone 9B. It is a good choice for gardens in Central and South Florida.

Crape Jasmine needs regular watering and fertilizing in spring, summer, and autumn to promote maximum bloom. It grows well in moist, well-drained soil but can survive with minimal water once established. It performs best in acidic soil and may need fertilizer when planted in more alkaline soils. Pruning is required to maintain a compact form.

The fragrance of Crape Jasmine is stronger in the evening, making it ideal for placement near a patio or pool. It is similar in appearance to gardenias but is easier to care for, as it is more cold-tolerant and less prone to insect infestations.

Pink Jasmine: hardy, with light pink flowers that fade to white-cream

If you're looking for a jasmine plant that will fill your garden with a sweet aroma, you may want to consider pink jasmine. This hardy plant, also known as Jasminum polyanthum, produces vibrant light pink flowers that fade to a white-cream colour as they age. It is one of the largest jasmine species and is ideal for growing along fences and over arbors.

Pink jasmine is a tropical species that can be grown in USDA zones 8-10. It is a sprawling vine that can grow to impressive lengths, making it perfect for adding a touch of natural beauty to your outdoor space. The plant requires support, so it is often grown along fences or over arbors, where it can climb and spread out.

Like other jasmine plants, pink jasmine is prized for its intense fragrance. The sweet scent of jasmine has been used for centuries in perfumes, alcohol, sweets, and desserts. It is believed to have a calming and soothing effect, and its essential oil is popular in aromatherapy for its ability to improve mood and reduce depression.

In addition to its fragrance, pink jasmine is also a visually appealing plant. The light pink flowers stand out against the dark green foliage, creating a stunning display in any garden. The flowers bloom in the spring and summer, filling the air with their sweet aroma.

If you decide to grow pink jasmine, it is important to provide it with the proper care. Jasmine plants thrive in regular garden soil and require frequent pinching and shaping to control their growth. They prefer warm, sunny, and sheltered locations and do best in moderately fertile, loamy, sandy, and moisture-retaining yet well-draining soil. With the right care, your pink jasmine will thrive and provide you with a beautiful display of colour and fragrance for years to come.

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