Jasminum officinale

RHS Plant Profile
common jasmine

Other common names

common white jasmine, jessamine, poet's jasmine, poet's jessamine, summer jasmine, true jasmine

Plants for pollinators
Climber Wall Shrub

A large, usually deciduous, climber reaching up to 12m in height, with green branches bearing mid-green leaves with 7-9 leaflets. Very fragrant, white flowers 2cm in width open in terminal clusters of 3 to 10 in summer and early autumn, sometimes followed by blackish-purple fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Oleaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Climbing
Genus
Jasminum are evergreen or deciduous shrubs, many climbing by twining stems bearing usually pinnate leaves, and star-shaped white, pink or yellow flowers, which are sometimes very fragrant. Fruit a black berry
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

To bring out the sweet fragrance of the flowers, the ideal planting position should be warm, sunny and sheltered but it will cope with partial shade and colder positions provided the soil is well-drained

Propagation

Propagate by layering, hardwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Climber and wall shrubs

Pruning

Prune out thin, old shoots after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects and mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)