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Jasminum officinale - L.                
                 
Common Name Jessamine
Family Oleaceae
Synonyms
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Shrubberies and forests, usually on humus-rich soils, 1200 - 3000 metres in the Himalayas[51, 145]. Valleys, ravines, thickets, woods, along rivers, meadows; 1800 - 4000 metres in W. China[266].
Range W. Asia to E. Asia.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of climber
Jasminum officinale is a deciduous Climber growing to 10 m (32ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from Jun to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Jasminum officinale Jessamine


Jasminum officinale Jessamine
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25816788@N08/2855534398
   
Habitats       
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Flowers.
Edible Uses: Condiment;  Tea.

Flowers - fragrant. Eaten or used to flavour or scent tea[183]. The dried flowers are a tea substitute[177]. An essential oil from the flowers is used as a condiment in various foods, especially Maraschino cherries but also baked goods, ice cream, sweets, chewing gum etc[183, 238]. It imparts a bitter-sweet floral tone[183].
Medicinal Uses


Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antiseptic;  Antispasmodic;  Aphrodisiac;  Aromatherapy;  Galactogogue;  Parasiticide;  Tonic.

The leaf juice is applied to corns and ear discharges[218, 240]. The leaves contain salicylic acid (found also in the bark of Salix species and used as an analgesic, febrifuge etc)[218, 240]. The root is used in the treatment of ringworm[240]. The flowers are aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antispasmodic, galactogogue and tonic[178, 218, 238]. They are mainly used in aromatherapy (see below). The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Aphrodisiac'[210]. It is used in the treatment of depression, nervous tension, impotence, frigidity, menstrual disorders and weak digestion[238].
Other Uses
Essential;  Parasiticide.

An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery[46, 171, 200]. The flowers are picked soon after opening each morning and used fresh for oil extraction[238].
Cultivation details                                         
Succeeds in a good well-drained loam[200], preferring a sunny position[182]. Very shade tolerant, it succeeds on a north facing wall[200]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[184]. They require the protection of a wall in northern Britain but are fully hardy in the south[11]. Another report says that they are hardy to about -10°c, and that the stem tips are often killed back in the winter though the plant soon recovers[202]. Climbs by means of twining[182]. It is self-supporting[200] and fast-growing[202]. Any pruning is best carried out in late winter and early spring[202]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties[200]. The flowers are very fragrant[202] and the plant is sometimes cultivated for the essential oil in its flowers, the sub-species J. officinale grandiflorum (L.)Kobuski. is used[171]. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth and also on older wood[202]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very easy. Cuttings of mature wood in November. Layering.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
L.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
11200266
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[51]Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas.
A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.
[145]Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar.
A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
[171]Hill. A. F. Economic Botany.
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.
[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
[178]Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica.
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
[182]Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[184]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs.
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[202]Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs.
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.
[210]Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use.
An excellent little pocket guide. Very concise.
[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[240]Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
[266] Flora of China
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers comment                                         
 
Elizabeth H.
anthea fawssett Thu Dec 3 2009
Does the name Jasminum have an original meaning?
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