Sweet Jasmine
These classic plants have retained their popularity through generations of gardeners.
Helen McKerral discovers why.

Walking through my garden, I can chart my changing plant interests over the twenty three years I’ve lived here, with survivors from each phase combining to make a landscape that is undeniably eclectic, but also uniquely mine and full of history. There was my “native” phase – the leschenaultias, boronias and other tricky western Australian natives have long succumbed to my clay soils, but Orthrosanthus, blackboys, eriostemon and many others remain. There’s my “herbaceous perennial” phase, and lovely aquilegias and hellebores continue to self-seed throughout the beds. As for my “variegated and golden foliage” phase, the viburnum, elderberry, philadelphus and deutzia survive, but others have been scorched away by hot summers. Currently, it’s an “edible plants” phase. But one of my very earliest interests was scented plants, and the earliest of these plants was jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum).

My jasmine grows along the carport on a post and wire mesh fence, and it was one of the very first plants I put into the ground. It’s near both the bedroom and dining room windows so, when it flowers in spring, the perfume drifts through the entire house. The heady scent is delightful, but I have since discovered that some people are allergic to it, and I had no idea that the tiny delicate tendril from the nursery would turn into a voracious triffid that could swallow up not only fences but also adjoining shrubs, trees and carports unless kept ruthlessly under control! It has also invaded areas of bushland in NSW, so don’t plant it if you live in a rural zone or adjacent to tracts of native vegetation. Elsewhere, that delightful spring fragrance is worth a little pruning, and I will retain this particular promiscuous girl. Scented plants add a unique dimension to any garden, and jasmine is a star performer.

Jasmine and her Cousins
At the time I planted my pink jasmine, I was unaware that there were more restrained jasmines from which to choose. In fact, J. polyanthum has about 200 cousins, all species in the genus Jasminum, primarily from Asia and Africa, and growing as semi-evergreen or evergreen shrubs or vines. There are even several Australian species/subspecies! Many are unscented, but both the exotic and native species under cultivation in Australia all have something to offer. Then there are the jasmine imposters – completely unrelated species such as Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star jasmine), Morinda jasminoides (Morinda jasmine) Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascar jasmine) and Solanum jasminoides (potato vine) whose climbing habit or white or creamy flowers resemble that of jasmine – but not its scent. Although most jasmines prefer tropical to subtropical climates, many will also grow in Mediterranean conditions, and some, such as J. beesianum, J. nudiflorum and J x stephanense are frost hardy. All prefer well-drained soil and plenty of moisture while they establish.

The Aussie natives
The nomenclature of Australian native jasmines is still rather tangled, but a handful species and subspecies is available under various names from native plant specialists, or visit local Australian Plant Society sales in your area. Jasminum simplicifolium subsp. Suavissimum is as scented as its exotic cousins and makes a great alternative to them. It’s moderately frost tolerant and can be grown either as a shrub or climber.
J. plantarum is another fragrant alternative, distributed throughout most states of Australia, including the arid inland. Jasminum lineare and Jasminum simplicifolium ssp australiense suit tropical to subtropical climates. The flowers of both are heavily fragrant and appear in spring.

The Exotics:
J. polyanthum (pink jasmine) is the most widely-grown jasmine in my state of South Australia. Its pink buds and white blooms are undeniably glorious but a reference text tells me it is “vigorous” – hah! – and then another text, decades too late, that it can become invasive in frost-free areas! If you plant this species, it can smother fences and adjoining trees and shrubs, so give it plenty of room and ruthlessly prune rogue tendrils. Prostrate stems layer readily, and the roots are deep and hard to pull. However, it is incredibly drought-tolerant once established: I never water mine and it becomes a stunning wall of pink and white every spring.

J. azoricum
Lemon-scented jasmine is pink jasmine’s well-behaved sister, much less rampant and more easily controlled. Plant this one when you have less space; choose a sunny spot free from frost, then enjoy the white flowers in summer.

J. officinale
The classic jasmine, introduced to Europe from China 500 years ago, is the source of the famous perfume. It’s also relatively well-behaved and can be grown as a container plant or clipped as a shrub. Give it plenty of sun, as well as water during the dry season.

J beesianum
Athough this evergreen, red-flowered jasmine tolerates frost, it prefers a sunny, protected spot. Like the lemon-scented jasmine, this one is polite to adjoining structures and shrubs. For a more vigorous, semi frost-hardy jasmine, choose the hybrid J. x stephanense (J. beesianum x J. officinale), with lightly fragrant pink flowers.

J. nitidum
The large, scented starry white flowers of this species provide a truly stunning display in spring to summer, but it’s only for warm, frost-free climates. Give it full sun and plenty of room.

J. sambac
Another contender for warm, frost free gardens, this jasmine’s fragrant white blooms appear throughout the year. Choose the slow-growing cultivar ‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ for smaller spaces.

The Yellow Sisters:
J fruticans is a large semi-deciduous shrub or rambler, with bright yellow flowers that appear from spring to autumn. J. humile is slightly more frost tolerant, evergreen, flowers for the same length of time and, despite her name, grows even bigger, to 3.5m. J mesneyi’s fragrant blooms appear in late winter to early spring.. Her long canes form a lovely arching shape to 3m, and she is slightly frost tolerant. Those with the very smallest of gardens can seek out J. parkeri, a dwarf rockery groundcover that grows less than 30cm high and stays within half a metre spread. J. nudiflorum is the frost-hardy deciduous rambler to plant for winter flowers, which bloom on bare branches before the leaves appear. Unlike many of its relatives, it actually prefers a cold climate!

Jasmines – especially the scented varieties – are classic garden plants for good reason, and you’ll find one to suit almost every climate – cool, cold, Mediterranean, tropical, subtropical and even arid – and the smallest or largest of spaces. Whether grown on fences, as hedges, in containers, as rambling shrubs or wreathing the verandah, the scent and beauty of jasmine will add to the ambience of any garden.

WebWatch:
Google “Jasminum” rather than “jasmine” to exclude the webpages of numerous teenage girls!

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1106.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmine
http://www.floridata.com/search.cfm?cx=partner-pub-0949692071158886%3Anptzbl-ox2j&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=jasminum&sa=Search#1151
http://www.weedsbluemountains.org.au/jasmine.asp
http://www.anbg.gov.au/apni/apniJ.html
http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=245
http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/search/advanced?genus=jasminum