Jasminum officinale, the most fragrant climber

View of the leaves and flowers of Jasminum officinale

The Jasmine officinale she is a much loved climber. Its flowers are very small, barely 2cm in diameter, but they are so beautiful and emit such a pleasant aroma that it is a pleasure to approach them. In addition, its cultivation is so simple that it will not matter if it is in a pot or in the garden.

But if you want to know how to enjoy your plant to the fullest and / or if you want to be able to show it off every time you have visitors, you can’t miss this special.

Origin and characteristics

The jasmine flower is small and white

Our protagonist is an evergreen climbing plant -that is, it remains evergreen- native to the Caucasus, northern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalayas, India, Nepal and western China. It is popularly known by the names of common jasmine, Moorish jasmine, white jasmine, summer jasmine, office jasmine or jasmine.

It grows to a height of six meters and has highly branched stemsslender, from which compound leaves of five to nine linear-lanceolate leaflets with the entire edge sprout. The flowers, which sprout in spring, are grouped in pure white inflorescences and are hermaphroditic. Once they are pollinated, the fruit is formed, which is a berry.

How do you take care of yourself?

If you want to have a jasmine in your home, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

You must place your plant outsidebeing very advisable in semi-shade although it can be in the sun.

Earth

Black peat, ideal for your jasmine

  • Flower pot: can grow in universal growing medium mixed with 30% perlite. You can buy the first one here! and the second in this other link.
  • the garden: it is not demanding at all. It grows in all types of soils, even limestone. Of course, if it has good drainage it will be easier to root.

Irrigation

Irrigation will depend on location, climate, and where it is planted, but In general, it will be watered 2-3 times a week in summer -something more if it is potted- and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.. In the case of having it in a container with a plate underneath, you must remember to remove the excess water ten minutes after watering.

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During spring and summer it must be paid with organic fertilizersLike guano or manure. If it is in a pot, it is important to fertilize with liquid fertilizers since this way the drainage will continue to be good.

Planting or transplanting time

Whether you want to plant your Jasmine officinale in the garden or pass it to a somewhat larger pot, you must do it at the end of winterwhen temperatures start to rise above 15 degrees Celsius.

Pruning

View of the leaves and flowers of the officinal jasmine

Image – Wikimedia / CT Johansson

In the winter dry, diseased or weak branches must be removedas well as those that cross giving it a matted appearance.

Multiplication

Multiply by leafy semi-woody cuttings in late summer

. You just have to cut them, impregnate the base with homemade rooting agents and plant them in a pot with vermiculite (you can buy it here!). After about two to three weeks they will begin to emit roots.

Pests

The Jasmine officinale can be affected by the following pests:

  • Borers: Hylesinus larvae excavate galleries between the bark and the wood. With the naked eye you can see holes through which the adult specimens come out, which must be fought with insecticides for larvae.
  • Mealybugs: either cottony or limpet, they adhere to the leaves to feed on them. To control or combat them you can use diatomaceous earth (you can buy it here!), neem oil (get it here!) or potassium soap (in this link you can buy it).
  • Weevils: those of the genus Otiorrhynchus bite the edges of the leaves. They are fought with chlorinated insecticides.
  • Jasmine Piral: they are caterpillars of the Margaronia or Glyphodes species that feed on the most tender leaves protected with silk threads that they themselves manufacture. They are fought with an anti-caterpillar insecticide.
  • Trunk drill: the caterpillars of the butterfly Zeuzera pyrina open galleries in the trunk of about 1 centimeter in diameter. They are fought with insecticides that act by inhalation.

Diseases

Mildew is a disease that jasmine can have

Leaf of a plant with downy mildew.

You can have the following diseases:

  • Neck guts: tumors appear at the base of the trunk produced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. There is no treatment.
  • Leaf spots: Ocher colored spots may sometimes appear on the leaves. To prevent the situation from getting worse, it is recommended to treat Jasminum officinale with fungicides such as Zineb or Mancozeb.
  • Mildew: a gray powder or mold appears on the leaves, especially in the younger ones. There may also be brown spots on the branches. It is fought with fungicides.
  • Root rot: occurs when the plant has been in very humid soils (or substrates). Fungi, such as Phytopthora, appear and weaken it even more. To avoid losing it, it is necessary to treat it with fungicide and reduce the risks.
  • TB: tumors or warts appear on the branches produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi. There is no treatment.

Rusticity

Withstands frosts up to -5ºC.

What did you think of the Jasmine officinale? Its nice is not it?

Jasminum officinale, the most fragrant climber

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