Sambac, Arabian Jasmine
Jasminum sambac

Family: Oleaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. It climbs. The leaves are opposite. They are oval and 3-12 cm long by 2-7.5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 5-10 mm long. The leaves are papery. There are 4-6 veins on either side of the main vein. The flower group is at the end of branches. There are 3-9 flowers together. The flowers are white and have a sweet smell. There are many petals and they are rounded. The fruit is a berry which is purple black and round. It is about 1 cm across.

Used as a medicine in Indonesia. It is a sacred plant of Hindus. There are between 200 and 500 Jasminum species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is widely cultivated in China. It is moderately salt tolerant. It needs regular moisture and an average, well-drained soil. It needs full sun. It needs a temperature above 13-15°C. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia (country/location of origin), Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central America, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, West Africa, West Indies, Winward Is.

How it is used for food

The dried flowers are used to flavour tea. (Jasmine tea) The flowers soaked in water are used in cooking especially in desserts. The flowers yield an essential oil used in flavouring.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers - flavouring, spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from semi-ripe cuttings. They can also be grown by air-layering.

Its other names

Local names

Adukkumalli, Banmallika, Boddumalle, Chamba, Chameli, Checupichakam, Diamela, Elusuttu mallige, Geta pichcha, Gundumalle, Gundumalli, Iruvantige, Jessamine, Kolumallige, Kudamulla, Kudumalligai, Mali laa, Mali, Maliwan, Mallika, Manmathabanmu, Mawk-sam-pai, Melati, Mlis, Mo li hua, Moghra, Mogra, Moli flower, Mollokhoi, Motia, Nallamulla, Pikake, Pitasi, Sabe, Sabe-gyi, Sampagita, Sujimallige, Te bitati, Virupakschi

Synonyms

Jasminum fragrans Salisb.; Jasminum pubescens Wall.; Jasminum quinqueflorum Heyne; Jasminum undulatum Willd.; Jasminum zambac Roxb.; Nyctanthes grandiflora Lour.; Nyctanthes sambac L.; Nyctanthes undulata L.; and others