The Oriental Jasmine

• There are about 200 species of jasmine--each with slight variations in the shapes of leaves and boasting of colors like white, yellow and red. The official name is Jasminum polyanthum and it has become known as the "oriental" jasmine because it originated in southwest China.
  
  

Versatile Plant

• Jasmine plants can grow as much as 6 inches a day and require regular pruning to pinch off new shoots and help develop strong, healthy plants. They can be easily trained to grow on trellises and around wreaths, or can be left to grow into small bushy hanging plants. The winter oriental jasmine blooms in late December to early January and features dark green leaves and white flowers which have a rich, sweet scent.
  
  

Care

• Jasmine plants can be easily grown indoors or out, but they do require some attention. They prefer soil that is well drained but not dry. They are sensitive to dry air, so indoor plants should be in a room that has moisture in the air, such as a bathroom, or place them in pebble-filled trays filled with water.
  
  Keep new plants in a window that is bright but that doesn't have exposure to direct sunlight. The room temperature should not be above 65 degrees F for the plant to grow and develop flowering buds. Once the blooms are open, the jasmine plant can be placed in the direct sunlight for about five or six hours a day, and at this point they can tolerate normal room temperatures.
  
  Continue the same watering regime throughout the life of the plant.
  
  

Taking the Jasmine Outdoors

• Jasmine plants can be taken outdoors when the threat of frost is gone. Place the pot in a shaded area and move it gradually into the sun once the blooms are open. Fertilize every two to four weeks during the spring and summer with a water soluble fertilizer.
  
  Prune the plant often to maintain your preferred size but stop pruning by the middle of October because then it is getting prepared for its winter flowers.
  
  Bring the plant indoors before the frost sets in and leave it in a cool bright area to continue the cycle again. By January, the jasmine plant should be showing off its next fragrant bouquet.
  
  

Other Uses

• Jasmine flowers are layered on top of green tea leaves and brewed to created a scented tea. The jasmine scent has been added to form the basis of not only distinguished perfumes, but perfumed items such as candles, room sprays and diffusers, laundry softeners, shampoos, oils and bath soaps.