The beautiful jasmine flower has an exotic and sweet fragrance that permeates the air on a warm summer afternoon. They bloom all summer on vines or shrubs, depending on the cultivar. Flower buds can be harvested to make a fragrant and refreshing tea. See steps 1 and beyond to learn how to plant, care for, and harvest jasmine flowers.
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Method 1 of 3: Planting Jasmine Flowers
Step 1. Choose a cultivar to grow
There are more than 200 species of jasmine, which differ in their characteristics from each other. Some can grow year round, but some cannot. Some are on vines, but some are in shrubs. Some are so soft that they have to be grown indoors, but some are hardy. Buy a cultivar that suits your needs. You'll find jasmine plants in pots at the nursery, or you can buy seeds online. The following jasmines are commonly available in nurseries:
| Variation | Planting Needs | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Jasminum officinale (summer jasmine) | Full sun to half shadow; planted outside in cool climates; otherwise, inside | White, sparkling flowers; Strong vines are well known in many areas. |
| Jasminum nudiflorum (winter jasmine) | Full sun to half shadow; planted outside in many areas | Yellow flowers, little care; cover the ground well. |
| Jasmine Parkeri | Full sun to half shadow; planted outside in cool climates; otherwise, inside | Yellow flowers; growing like a bush. |
| Jasminum fruticans | Full sun to half shadow; planted outside in cool climates; otherwise, inside | Flowers yellow and tubular; a shrub that can grow in any season. |
| Jasminum sambac | Full sun to half shadow; grown indoors except in tropical climates | Fragrant flowers make delicious tea; requires a controlled indoor environment in most areas. |
Step 2. Find a place that matches your jasmine
Each jasmine cultivar has specific environmental needs, so do a little research to find out what conditions your plant requires. In order for your jasmine flowers to grow well, it is important to provide them with the right sunlight and temperature. When you are deciding where to plant your jasmine, take the following variables into account:
- What level of sunlight is needed? Most jasmine plants require partial to full sun, although some cultivars receive full shade.
- Is it hardy in your climate? Decide if the jasmine you choose can survive outside or is better potted inside, where you can control the temperature and humidity. If you plan to plant it outside, you should choose the warmest spot you can find.
- How much area does your jasmine plant need? Some cultivars are vines that creep up walls and fences, others grow in soil and cover it well, and others grow as shrubs. Choose a planting location that matches the type you have.
Step 3. Prepare the soil for planting
Most jasmine cultivars grow well in rich, well-drained soil. Whether you are growing your jasmine in the ground or in a pot, prepare the soil with a 2 inch layer of compost manure. This will ensure the jasmine will produce healthy flowers in the growing season.
If you are planting outside, check the site you have chosen to make sure it is well irrigated. Dig a hole and fill it with water. If the water quickly seeps into the hole, it means the soil is well irrigated. If the water is steady and absorbed slowly, choose another planting site
Step 4. Plant the jasmine
Gently push the jasmine plant out of its place and moisten the roots. Dig a hole the size of the root and place the jasmine plant in it. Gently pat the soil around it to hold it in place. Water the soil around the plant well to help the plant settle down. Add more soil if necessary to keep it upright.
- While the most common way to grow jasmine is to purchase young jasmine plants, growing jasmine from seed is also possible. Jasmine seeds have low germination and require special care depending on the cultivar. In most cases, you can start planting seeds indoors, grow seedlings and plant outside when winter has passed.
- Another way to grow jasmine is to use half-grown cuttings of mature jasmine plants. In midsummer or fall, cut 6-inch-long healthy stems from the jasmine plant. Prepare a pot with a mixture of soil and compost and plug the stem into the pot. Place the pot next to a window with sunlight, water well, and transplant in spring.
Method 2 of 3: Caring for Jasmine Flowers
Step 1. Prepare a pole for the jasmine to propagate
Many types of jasmine require a pole to propagate in order to grow strong and healthy. Place a tall pole or trellis a few inches from the surface of the jasmine, and gently wrap it around the pole as the jasmine grows. Eventually the jasmine will grow wrapped around the pole by itself. If you plant jasmine next to a wall or fence, train the jasmine to grow upwards until it can do it on its own.
To make sure the jasmine grows on a trellis or post, you can use a rope or tie loose rope to help. Remove the rope when the vines have formed
Step 2. Keep the environment moist
Water the soil around the jasmine throughout the growing season to keep it moist, but not soggy. A good rule of thumb for determining when to water jasmine is when the soil starts to look and feel a little dry. If you're growing jasmine in a pot, make sure it's well-watered and watered once a day.
- Water the jasmine at the bottom to prevent the leaves from getting wet. The sun will burn the leaves if the remaining water is on the leaves during the hottest hours.
- For jasmine that you plant indoors, pay attention to the level of humidity in the air as well as in the soil. The brittle type of jasmine requires humidity levels between 30 and 45. Use a moisturizer or mist the plant regularly.
Step 3. Fertilize jasmine once a month
As the season grows, fertilize the jasmine once a month to keep it thriving. Sprinkle a balanced fertilizer that is soluble with water around the jasmine plain. Otherwise, you can add 1 inch of compost to the soil around the jasmine plant. Be careful not to disturb the roots.
Step 4. Prune the jasmine
During the growing season, remove dry leaves, flowers, and stems with the cutter to make cuts. Trim the plant by cutting off stray stems. By removing the stems, you can adjust the shape of the vines. Jasmine shrubs and types grown indoors require a little pruning to keep their shape.
- Do not prune before or while growing, as this can hinder development. Wait until the plant has finished growing in season.
- To improve the shape of bush jasmine, you can trim the stems by 1/3 after they have developed. The bush will return the following season in fuller form.
Step 5. Cover the jasmine surface in the fall
To protect the jasmine plant in the winter, add a few inches of pine straw, manure or compost around the base of the jasmine. This will ensure that the root system doesn't freeze, and your jasmine will start growing again as the season warms up.
- If you are growing your jasmine in a pot outside, you can bring it inside in the winter rather than adding to the pile.
- Jasmine grown indoors all year round does not require stacking. However, it is very important to keep it in a hot room where the temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees.
Step 6. Monitor for pests
Jasmine plants are generally not bothered by pests, but it's still a good idea to monitor them for certain insects that might interfere with their growth. If you see any of the following insects on your jasmine, remove them with water and place them in a jar of soapy water, or wash the jasmine leaves with soapy water or water with neem oil:
- Aphids
- White lice
- Red spider mite
- Soft scales
Step 7. Watch the flower grow
If your plant looks bushy, but isn't blooming, it may be that the nitrogen content in the soil is too high. This often happens when you apply too much fertilizer. Or, your plants may be stressed from too much or too little watering, temperature extremes, lack of sunlight, or waterlogging.
In the region of the four seasons, jasmine plants also need to rest in the fall
Method 3 of 3: Harvesting Jasmine Flowers
Step 1. Cut the jasmine flowers for display
Jasmine vines or shrubs will produce plenty of flowers throughout the season, and you can bring them indoors to display as part of the arrangement. Use sharp cutters to cut branches that contain lots of flowers and leaves. Place the stems in water as soon as possible to retain their freshness.
Step 2. Harvest jasmine buds to make tea
While your jasmine produces flowers in the spring and summer, you can make your own jasmine tea from the flower buds. Jasmine tea is said to have a refreshing function, especially when mixed with green tea leaves. To make your own, follow these steps:
- In the morning, slowly pick the flower buds from the plant. Their essence is strongest in the morning.
- Place in 1 layer on baking sheet.
- Bake the buds using your oven's lowest setting - 200 °F (93 °C) or lower. You can also dry the buds by placing them on a hot window in a dry room.
- Let the buds dry completely. In the oven, this takes 3 hours. Make sure not to overcook it.
- Leave the buds on the baking sheet overnight before storing them.
- Store the buds in an airtight jar. If you want to make tea, add 1 tablespoon to boiling water. Let it soak for 4 minutes, then strain the buds and enjoy.
Step 3. Use jasmine buds to make an infused oil
If you want to use the strong and sweet scent of jasmine to make perfume you can make your own infused oil with fresh buds. You will need a glass jar with an airtight lid and an oil base of your choice. Almond, jojoba, olive, or castor oil are good choices. Follow this process to make the infusion:
- Harvest 1/4 cup of fresh buds in the morning.
- Place the buds in a plastic bag and gently crush them with a hammer to remove the oil.
- Place the buds in a jar and pour 1/2 cup of base oil. Close the jar and place in a cool, dark place for 24 hours.
- Strain the buds and smell the oil. If you want a stronger oil, repeat the process with fresh buds. Continue soaking it in the oil until it smells as strong as you want it to be.
- Transfer the oil to an amber or blue glass bottle for long-lasting storage. You can apply the oil to perfume, or use it as an ingredient in lotions, lip balms, and other blends.
Tips
- Jasmine plants can be propagated during the summer by cutting off the tips.
- Plant jasmine close to your house, patio, or street to enjoy its strong fragrance and to get a good view of hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus (15-30-15) for maximum growth.
- Not all types of jasmine produce fragrance. If the smell is important to you, be sure to choose the kind that smells good.
- Jasmine can grow vigorously in the right growing conditions. To control growth, jasmine plants require regular cutting. Prune the jasmine plant after it has finished developing and during the summer to control growth and prevent the long vine from tangling if it is not trained to climb trellises or other supporting structures.
