Jasmine Varieties and Review

Just by listening to the name of the jasmine flower, most people will immediately know that this flower has a fresh fragrance. In one of the Southeast Asian countries, namely India, in its culture this flower is considered to have a famously sacred spiritual thing which is believed by the majority of people there as a symbol of divine hope, luck, and optimism.

Not only that, because of its distinctive aroma, this jasmine flower is widely cultivated. jasmine has always been a popular species not only for gardening purposes but also for fragrances e.g. jasmine scented perfume, air freshener, medicinal use etc.

Status as a national flower is also often pinned to various types of jasmine flowers in various countries such as Indonesia which are often used in traditional ceremonies, for example weddings which are very synonymous with jasmine flowers as decorations, the Philippines and Pakistan all because jasmine flowers are considered to represent love and respect.

You must be familiar with jasmine tea, apart from being used as an ornamental shrub, jasmine is also grown for making tea, perfume and for making essential oils. Even the root of jasmine is often dried to make certain sedatives.

Well, you know actually there are various of jasmine shrubs that do not  belong to the jasmine family. Due to they often share the same characteristic white color and rich fragrance yet vary greatly in their growth and maintenance, these are called false jasmine. So, these are some list you may know about True jasmine and false jasmine:

This type of true jasmine varieties are the genuine of jasmine that truly belong to its genus.

White Jasmine

Jasminum officinale as known as Poet’s Jasmine, White Jasmine, Common White Jasmine or True Jasmine. Common jasmine. When common jasmines are fully matured this plant grows fast and can reach heights of up to 15 feet. Features pristine five-petaled white flowers. These jasmines thrives  during the summer but under controlled environments it can also flowering at other times  such as that in greenhouses or indoor environments that have a warm temperature. White jasmines are cultivated by many gardeners commercially for the production of essential oils which are used for other similar purposes including aromateraphy.

Common jasmine can be made as elegant adornment for archways and entryways by pruning properly  to keep its bushy growth under control.

Arabian Jasmine

Jasminum sambac are typically 4 to 6 feet in width and height, some of them can often grow up to 10 feet tall. As you trained them this flower comprise of small but captivating white multi-layered flowers that looks like roses, with simply exquisite against the dark and glossy green leaves. When this flower fully matured, the blooms of this jasmine sambac can turn faded pink.

In Florida arabian jasmine has been labeled as an exotic invasive, and it is the national flower in Indonesia and Philippines . These beautiful white blossoms are popular in Hawaii for leis making.

Winter Jasmine

Jasminum Nudiflorum well known as winter jasmine, unlike most other jasmine, this jasmine is very unique because it has a striking color, it has bright yellow and no fragrance. It can grow up to 4 feet wide and 7 ft high. This winter jasmine is ideal for wall side borders or on trellis. Set in full, partial sunlight they will grown well.

Royal Jasmine

Jasminum Grandiflorum, also called Royal jasmine has pure white flowers that grow about an inch apart on a vine. And it is a subset of the Jasminum officinale species. The difference of them is this variety is often grown for the food industry besides being used in making perfumes.

Pink Jasmines

Jasminum polyanthum or commonly people know them as pink jasmines. It is a sturdy evergreen vine that produces clusters of long-tubed pinkish white flowers with intense fragrance, and common as a house plant such as decorative purposes long trailing vines but be warned that pink jasmine can grow up to 20 feet tall. It is also thrives well in drained soils and under a sheltered, but can not tolerate frost. It can bloom all around the year as well in warmer climates. Pruning during flowering season to keep them beautiful. 

Wild jasmine 

Jasminum Fruticans or known as Wild Jasmine has a yellow flowers all through spring and summertime. If you compared this wild jasmine to other varietis, they will grown slowly in drought condition.

Dwarf Jasmine

Dwarf jasmine has vivid yellow blooms with five petals. It can grows up to one feet tall and sprawls only a few feet across. The yellow beauties grow in clumps and if this jasmine compared to other species, this one has very lightly fragrant. You can esasily prun them due to it has small stem and this flower can stays lush green throughout all seasons.

Type of False jasmines

Star jasmine

as known as Trachelospermum Asiaticum it is  a relative of the oleander family which was discovered not so long ago. Star jasmines originated from China and Japan which are the best bet for novice gardeners, this species blooms abundantly although requires low maintenance yet . Star jasmine dark green oval-shaped leaves.

Night Blooming Jasmine

Or known as Cestrum Nocturnum originated from tropical America and West Indies. It oval-shaped leaves and small but long (4 to 8 inches), faded-white to greenish when it bloom from spring to fall. Night blooming jasmines will grows best in well-drained soils with direct sunlight. At night this flowers has fragrance which can grows so strong. If you grow them in warmer regions, night blooming jasmine just needs little attention except in cloder areas.

Basically cestrum nocturnum  belongs to the potato family although it is not edible. And probably, it poisonous given the allergies it triggers merely by its smell.

Gardenia Jasminoides

Known as cape jasmines or called Heaven Scent due to their fragrance. This plant is noted for its hardiness and colorful seed pods, but it does not belong to the jasmine family altough it does have white flowers and glossy dark green leaves. Cape jasmines require a lot of water and high maintenance and grow best in warmer climates.