White fragrant flower, Spanish jasmine
Jasminum grandiflorum

Family: Oleaceae

What it is like

A vigorous plant. It is a scrambling plant. The leaves are opposite and are compound. They have an odd number of leaflets along the stalk. There are usually about 7 leaflets and they are broadly oval. They are 1-3 cm long by 3-12 mm wide. They only have very short leaf stalks. The flowers can be 4 cm across. They can have pink on the outside. They occur in groups at the ends of branches.

There are between 200 and 500 Jasminum species. It is the national flower of Pakistan.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows well in sunny dry locations. It needs a temperature above 7°C. In Pakistan it grows between 500-1,500 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Arabia (country/location of origin), Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Maldives, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niue, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, West Indies, Windward Is.

How it is used for food

The flowers are used to scent tea. The dried leaves are used to scent Chinese tea leaf.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Spice, flowers, flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by semi-ripe cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Chameli, Poet's jasmine, Royal jasmine, Saman pichcha, Suxinhua

Synonyms

Jasminum floribundum R.Br. ex Fresen; Jasminum officinale L. var. grandiflorum (L.) Stokes; Jasminum officinale L. forma grandiflorum (L.) Kobuski;