Tips for Growing Fragrant Arabian Jasmine (2024)

Arabian Jasmine Care

Maintaining Arabian jasmine is quite easy. Here are the main care requirements for growing Arabian jasmine:

• Choose a location with full or partial sun and well-drained soil.
• Keep the soil evenly moist and water as needed during dry spells.
• Outside its hardiness range, grow Arabian jasmine in pots and bring the plants indoors for the winter.
• Fertilize the plant regularly during the growing season in spring and summer.
• Prune to maintain the desired shape and remove faded flowers after the bloom.

Light

Full to partial sun is needed for healthy Arabian jasmine plants. At least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day is ideal. If kept indoors during the winter, be sure to place this plant in a very sunny window.

Soil

Loose, loamy, humusy soil is preferred by this flowering shrub. It likes an evenly moist, well-draining soil medium. Adding compost will help loosen, enrich, and moisten the soil.

Water

Arabian jasmine requires plenty of water, especially during the summer season. Water this plant regularly to keep the soil moist, though not wet. Avoid soggy soil as this will lead to rot. When the first few inches of soil feels dry to the touch, water thoroughly. This may be once a week or more, depending on your location. It is best to reduce this plant’s water during the winter.

Temperature and Humidity

Arabian jasmine thrives in warm, tropical climates from USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. They are very susceptible to frost and do not tolerate cold temperatures. Because they are tropical plants, Arabian jasmine needs moderate to high humidity.

Fertilizer

Giving Arabian jasmine fertilizer throughout its growing season will help support its abundant blooming. It is best to use a high-quality, well-balanced fertilizer. Begin fertilizing after pruning in late winter or early spring.

Types of Arabian Jasmine

• J. sambac 'Grand Duke of Tuscany': This slower-growing variety deviates from the usual flower structure by producing double and semi-double blooms. This allows the flowers to take on a rose-like appearance.
• J. sambac 'Belle of India': This variety sports beautiful flowers with elongated petals. It can produce both single and double blooms.
• J. sambac 'Maid of Orleans': This variety has rounded petals on a single bloom, giving this flower a soft, star-like appearance.

Pruning

Arabian jasmine does not require extensive pruning, but proper trimming will ensure a beautiful, healthy plant. For areas where the Arabian jasmine blooms year-round, simply prune the plant after the flowers fade to maintain its desired shape.

In climates where this plant ceases blooming during the winter season, trim away all dead branches and blooms above their nodes at the beginning of winter. This will ensure healthy new growth for the coming growing season.

Propagating Arabian Jasmine

Propagating Arabian jasmine is best done by cuttings. Here’s how:

1. Using clean garden snips, cut a stem that is around 6 inches long. Cut directly below a leaf.
2. Remove the leaves on the lower half of the cutting.
3. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone.
4. Using a stick, make a hole into moist soil.
5. Gently place the cutting into the hole. Avoid pressing it firmly into the dirt, as this may damage the cutting.
6. Place a plastic bag over the cutting to retain the moisture. Lift the bag every 10 days or so to allow airflow. Roots should form in around 6 weeks.
7. When new growth appears, remove the bag and move to an area with bright, indirect light. As it establishes, slowly move to a sunny location.

How to Grow Arabian Jasmine from Seed

Growing Arabian jasmine from seed is another easy option for starting this plant; however, seeds from a cultivar won't produce a plant that is true to the parent, If you still want to give it a try, follow these steps:

1. To start the seed, soak it in water for 24 hours.
2. Fill a seed-starting pot with moist potting soil and place the seed in the soil.
3. Place a plastic bag over the pot to keep in moisture.
4. Place in a sunny spot.
5. Once seedlings appear, remove the plastic. When they reach a few inches tall, repot them into larger pots.

Potting and Repotting Arabian Jasmine

Arabian jasmine grows very well in containers. Choose a pot with drainage holes that fits the root system comfortably without much extra room, which prevents excess water from causing moisture problems.

When the plant fills the pot, repot it to a new pot one size up with fresh, well-drained potting soil.

Overwintering

If you are growing jasmine in garden soil year-round, add mulch, leaves, or other insulating, organic material on top of the soil around the plant to insulate the roots.

Outside its hardiness range, the plant must be overwintered indoors. Bring it inside when nighttime temperatures drop below 55°F.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Common pestsof Arabian jasmine are aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Diseases that may affect the plant include leaf blight. rust, and fungal wilt. Proper watering and good air circulation help to keep the plant disease-free.

How to Get Arabian Jasmine to Bloom

Bloom Months

Arabian jasmine blooms from spring to fall. In warm climates, it sometimes bloomed intermittently year-round.

What Do Arabian Jasmine Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The flowers of Arabian jasmine are about 1 inch in diameter, waxy, and white. Depending on the variety, the flowers are single or double. As they mature, their color changes to a faded pink. The flowers grow in clusters of 3 to 12 blooms at the end of the stems. They are exceptionally fragrant with the typical rich, sweet, fruity, and sensual jasmine scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

In addition to providing the plant with the best growing conditions, fertilizing it regularly is the best way to encourage an abundant bloom. Pruning the faded flowers does not necessarily extend the bloom period but it prepares it for the next bloom period.