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Scientific: Jasminum sambac
Common: Arabian jasmine
Family: Oleaceae
Origin: Southern Himalayan Mountains

Pronounciation: Jazz-MI-num SAM-bak

Hardiness zones
Sunset
12 (freeze sensitive)-24
USDA 9 (freeze sensitive)-11

Landscape Use: Foundation planting, sensory garden, nasal accent, entry way.

Form & Character: Mounding and slightly spreading, tropical, tender, delicate, lovely, informal.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, semi-woody, broadleaf perennial shrub that grows to 3- to 5-feet tall with slightly greater spread.

Foliage/Texture: Opposite, glaborus green, ovate to almost 5-inches long, prominent veins, green stems becoming woody with age; medium texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Small, clusters of white flowers are borne in late spring to summer, sweetly fragrant; fruit inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Flowers are not as showy as other Jasminum species, but WOW! are they fragrant.

Temperature: Cold sensitive in Phoenix, yet is little stressed by the hottest of Phoenix summer days (so long as not exposed to western afternoon sun).

Light: Partial shade to full shade, eastern exposures best and NO western exposures.

Soil: Tolerant of limited alkalinity. Grows best in a rich, organic soil that is well drained.

Watering: In Phoenix, Arabian jasmine needs AMPLE water during the summer months in particular.

Pruning: Prune only lightly after bloom to improve shape.

Propagation: Softwood stem cuttings are relatively easy to root under mist. In moist situations, branches might take root with prolonged ground contact.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Arabian jasmine is a smaller shrub with an intoxicating flower fragrance. Arabian jasmine has been cultivated for a long time in the Old World. It is one of the three national flowers of Indonesia, and in China the flower is processed as one of the main ingrediants of Chinese tea.