Which plant is better: lady of the night or jasmine?

There is no doubt that both the jasmine and the lady of the night are plants that can be very beautiful, but it must be said that are very different and therefore should not be used for the same. In addition, we must also keep in mind the weather, because depending on how it is, we will have to provide them with some care or others.

Therefore, If you are wondering whether to plant a nightshade or a jasmine in your patio or in the ground, then I am going to talk about both plants. so that you yourself decide on one of them based on your tastes and preferences, but also on the conditions of the place where you want to put it.

Characteristics of the lady of the night and jasmine

We will first comment on the physical characteristics of each plant, since it is the ‘visible part’ of them and what, as a consequence, we look at before deciding. So let’s see:

Night Lady

It is a shrub that can measure up to 5 meters in heightbut it can be kept much lower if desired, as it tolerates pruning very well. Its leaves are semi-deciduous, which means that, when the time comes, only a few fall off, not all of them. That time is when temperatures begin to drop, in autumn-winter.

Its leaves are generally lanceolate, that is, they are spear-shaped, and measure between 10 centimeters long and 2-3 centimeters wide. In addition, they have a short petiole that joins them to the branches, which are greenish. The flowers are tubular, white, and are grouped in clusters that sprout between the branches.. These are very fragrant, and they open up a bit at night. Its flowering time is spring.

Jasmine

Jasmine is a genus of plants that, depending on the species, it can be climber or rather a bush. Likewise, it can be deciduous or semi-deciduous, and even if the weather is warm enough, it can stay evergreen. The leaves are trifoliate or imparipinnate, that is, they are composed of several leaflets or pinnae, which are green or dark green.

Its flowers are usually white, but can be yellow (like those of winter jasmine, whose scientific name is Jasminum mesnyi), or roses (like those of Jasminum x stephanense). These sprout in spring or summer, although depending on the variety, they can do so in winter.

As there are many different types – 200, to be exact, not counting the hybrids – their height also varies. So, we have for example these:

• Bushy jasmine: 2 meters high.
• Jasminum mesnyi: 3 meters high.
• Jasmine officinale: 6 meters high.
• Jasminum polyanthum: 7 meters high maximum.
• jasminum sambac: 4 meters high.

What are the needs of each?

We have talked about the physical characteristics, but now we have to talk about the needs, because only if we take them into account can we have a beautiful lady of the night or a beautiful jasmine from day one:

Basic necessities of the lady of the night

La night Lady It is a shrub that is usually recommended to put in full sun from the beginning; not in vain, it needs it to grow properly, and also to be able to flourish. However, could also be shadedas long as there was a lot of light in that area; that is, it would not be a good idea to have it in a dark place.

Furthermore, It can be kept in a pot with a hole in its base, but it must be placed in one with a universal growing medium. that the water drains well, because it fears flooding. And speaking of excess water, to avoid it, it should be watered several times a week in summer, and less the rest of the year. You should also take advantage of the good weather to fertilize it, for example with an organic fertilizer such as guano.

As soon as the cold arrives It will have to be brought indoors if there are frosts of up to -3.5ºC.

Jasmine Basic Needs

El jasmine is a plant that, unlike the lady of the night, it has to be yes or yes in a sunny place. That is, you cannot put it in the shade, because even if it is very bright, its flowering will be scarce. But otherwise, you can have it in a pot or in the garden, as long as it grows in quality soil, rich in organic matter.

If we talk about irrigation, it will be moderatebeing more frequent in summer (and even more so during a heat wave) than in winter. It does not resist drought: its leaves immediately ‘fold’ and the flowers, if any, can fall prematurely. For this reason, it is important to check the humidity of the soil from time to time, for example by inserting a wooden stick to the bottom, because although we see the dry surface layer, it could be that the lower ones are still wet, and if we water more than account, the plant would eventually drown.

Finally, it is a plant that it is generally more sensitive to cold than the lady of the night. In fact, most species do not tolerate frost, except for these:

• Jasminum mesnyi: up to -10ºC.
• Jasmine officinale. up to -7ºC.
• Jasminum polyanthum: up to -5ºC.
• jasminum sambac: up to -7ºC.

Anyway, from my own experience I will tell you that plants suffer more when temperatures remain low for several days in a row, than from a single frost. In other words, if the thermometer stays between 5 and 10ºC (for example), the jasmine will have a worse time than if it stays between 10 and 20ºC and at some point it drops to -3ºC.

What are dama de noche and jasmine used for?

To finish, let’s see how both plants can be used to decorate. And for this, the first thing we have to keep in mind is that the lady of the night is a bush that, yes, has long stems, but it is not a climbing plant; jasmine, on the other hand, many of the varieties that are sold -if not all- do climb. Therefore, their uses are a bit different:

• Night Lady:
  • low hedge, on edges for example;
  • free-growing plant in different areas of the garden, or next to other shrubs;
  • potted plant, as a small tree or even as a bonsai.
• Jasmine:
  • to cover fences, wire mesh, small lattices or pergolas;
  • as a groundcover or groundcover in non-traffic areas of the garden;
  • potted plant, or as a bonsai.

So which one is better?

I personally like jasmine more, because it gives much more play and its flowers also open, so they are more visual, more beautiful. Both plants produce aromatic flowers and tolerate pruning very well, but the lady of the night will not serve to cover a lattice for example.although it will be splendid as a hedge.

This depends on each one. Anyway, let me tell you that if you’re worried that jasmine won’t tolerate your climate, the fake jasmine It is very similar but it withstands frost much better. Click on the link if you want to know more.

And which do you prefer: the lady at night or the jasmine?