Winter Featured Plant
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Jasminum polyanthum
Jasmine
One of the most beloved plants for the home grower
and botanic garden alike is the Chinese native, Jasminum polyanthum,
or Jasmine. Who can resist the attributes of fragrance and showy, white flowers?
The star-shaped, white flowers, borne in cymes originating from alternate leaf
axils, start as delicate, pink, long, pointed buds.
Flowers
of Jasminum polyanthum,
borne in cyms, originate in the leaf axils.
The key to inducing most jasmines to flower is
providing a seasonal, 18 degree fahrenheit drop in temperature. J. polyanthum
is no exception, and will only set flowers if allowed to grow in cool conditions
(below 60 degrees). The home gardener, lacking a sunny, cool greenhouse or porch,
may have success inducing flowering by leaving their plant outdoors starting
in August, provided the night temperatures do not go below 40 degrees. Once
flowers have been set (or night temperatures threaten to dip below 40 degrees)
the plant may be brought into the house to enjoy.
Jasmine buds waiting to
open.
A Jasmine plant growing
in the Show House
here at the Talcott Greenhouse.
A woody climber, J. polyanthum may
be grown as a houseplant in a sunny indoor location, or, in USDA zone 8 and
warmer,in a very sheltered spot outdoors. The fast-growing, slender vines will
require support of a small trellis or tall stakes, and should be pruned back
as needed during the summer months.Water as needed during the summer months,
and more sparingly during the winter.
Detail of the
pale pink flower buds.
A cascade
of star-shaped, white flowers.
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