Jasminum officinale
Jessamine
a deciduous member of the Jasminum genus in the family Oleaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Flowers - fragrant. Eaten or used to flavour or scent tea[8]. The dried flowers are a tea substitute[5]. 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[8][14]. It imparts a bitter-sweet floral tone[8].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Tea
- Plant part
- Flowers
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaf juice is applied to corns and ear discharges[13][15]. The leaves contain salicylic acid (found also in the bark of Salix species and used as an analgesic, febrifuge etc)[13][15]. The root is used in the treatment of ringworm[15]. The flowers are aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antispasmodic, galactogogue and tonic[6][13][14]. They are mainly used in aromatherapy (see below). The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Aphrodisiac'[12]. It is used in the treatment of depression, nervous tension, impotence, frigidity, menstrual disorders and weak digestion[14].
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Aphrodisiac
- Product or use
- Aromatherapy
- Product or use
- Galactogogue
- Product or use
- Parasiticide
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery[17][4][10]. The flowers are picked soon after opening each morning and used fresh for oil extraction[14].
- Product or use
- Essential
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia to E. Asia.
- Habitat
- Shrubberies and forests, usually on humus-rich soils, 1200 - 3000 metres in the Himalayas[18][3]. Valleys, ravines, thickets, woods, along rivers, meadows; 1800 - 4000 metres in W. China[16].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in a good well-drained loam[10], preferring a sunny position[7]. Very shade tolerant, it succeeds on a north facing wall[10]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[9]. They require the protection of a wall in northern Britain but are fully hardy in the south[2]. 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[11]. Climbs by means of twining[7]. It is self-supporting[10] and fast-growing[11]. Any pruning is best carried out in late winter and early spring[11]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties[10]. The flowers are very fragrant[11] and the plant is sometimes cultivated for the essential oil in its flowers, the sub-species J. officinale grandiflorum (L.)Kobuski. is used[4]. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth and also on older wood[11]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00