Arabian jasmine

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; provide afternoon shade in very hot, dry climates. Indoors, use your brightest window.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings. Water less in winter, but do not let the root ball dry out completely.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. For containers, use a good-quality potting mix with added drainage material.

Height

5-10 ft (1.5-3 m)

Spread

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m)

Flowers

White, single or double flowers from late spring into autumn; flowering may continue intermittently throughout the year in consistently warm conditions.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, dark green, oval leaves, usually arranged in opposite pairs; foliage may thin or drop in cold conditions.

Growth

Moderate; faster with sustained warmth and regular watering.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (0.94 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2.3 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Invasive in

the US

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply when the soil surface begins to dry; empty container saucers after watering.
• Feed container plants with a balanced flowering-plant fertiliser at the label rate during active growth.
• Mulch outdoor plants, keeping mulch clear of the stems.
• Tie long stems loosely to a small trellis if you want an upright plant; they do not cling to walls.
• In cold climates, bring pots indoors before nights regularly fall below 50°F (10°C), and keep them in bright light away from heating vents.

Pruning. Shorten long stems and remove weak or dead growth in late winter or early spring, before vigorous growth begins. Lightly trim after a flowering flush to encourage branching, but avoid repeated hard clipping, which removes developing flowers.

Late winter

Prune lightly to shape the plant and remove dead or weak stems.

Spring

Repot crowded container plants and resume feeding as new growth starts.

Late spring

In cool climates, move pots outdoors once nights remain above 50°F (10°C), gradually acclimatising them to direct sun.

Summer

Check container moisture frequently, tie in long stems and inspect new growth for pests.

Early autumn

In cool climates, inspect for pests and bring pots under cover before nights turn cold.

Winter

Keep overwintering plants bright and frost-free; reduce watering and pause feeding if growth stops.

• Place a container beside a patio or doorway where you can enjoy the evening fragrance.
• Train the loose stems onto a small courtyard trellis for a leafy, flowering backdrop.
• Use as a loose shrub among hibiscus and other warm-climate plants.
• Include near seating in a white-flowered or night garden, where the blooms remain visible after dusk.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern courtyard, Sensory garden, White garden, Evening garden and Small-space.

Plant it with: Gardenia, Hibiscus, Pentas, Dwarf ixora and Bird of paradise.

Wildlife: Fragrant single flowers can attract moths and other nectar-feeding insects in warm climates. Densely double flowers offer less accessible nectar.

• Spider mites cause pale stippling and fine webbing, especially indoors: rinse leaf undersides regularly and use insecticidal soap labelled for the plant if needed.
• Mealybugs and scale leave sticky residue and weaken growth: isolate affected pots, remove visible pests and treat with a labelled horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
• Waterlogged roots cause yellowing leaves and dieback: improve drainage, empty saucers and let the soil surface dry slightly before watering again.
• Few flowers usually reflect insufficient light, cool conditions or excessive nitrogen: move to a brighter, warmer position and avoid high-nitrogen feeding.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as a serious poisoning hazard. Eating plant material can still cause stomach upset. Do not confuse it with toxic plants also called jasmine, including Carolina jessamine and night-blooming jasmine.

Where it spreads. Reported as invasive in Hawaii and Florida. Check current local guidance before planting outdoors in these regions, and prevent garden waste from establishing beyond your property.

• Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

  Common jasmine is a more vigorous climber with leaves divided into several leaflets; Arabian jasmine has simple, undivided leaves.

• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

  Star jasmine has narrow, twisted flower lobes that form a pinwheel and releases milky sap when damaged; Arabian jasmine has broader flower lobes and no milky sap.

• Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)

  Night-blooming jasmine bears clusters of long, narrow, greenish-white tubular flowers and alternate leaves; Arabian jasmine has broader white flowers and usually opposite leaves. Cestrum is toxic.

Jasminum comes from the Persian name for jasmine, while the common name Arabian jasmine reflects its long cultivation in Arabia rather than an Arabian origin.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe stem cuttings during warm weather and root them in a moist, free-draining medium with high humidity. Low stems can also be layered while still attached to the parent plant.

Accepted botanical name

Jasminum sambac

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

East Himalaya and India.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.