jasmine

Jasmine refers to flowering plants in the genus Jasminum in the olive family Oleaceae. Native to warm temperate and tropical regions of Eurasia, Africa, and Australasia, jasmines are cultivated worldwide for their highly scented flowers. The genus comprises around 200 species, including widely grown ones such as Jasminum officinale (common jasmine), Jasminum grandiflorum (royal or Spanish jasmine), and Jasminum sambac (Arabian or sampaguita jasmine).

Most species are evergreen climbers or shrubs. Leaves are opposite and often pinnate with 3–9 leaflets. Flowers are typically tubular and five-lobed, appearing in clusters. Colors range from white to soft yellow; the fragrance is rich and characteristic, often strongest at night in some species, and used to perfume gardens and interiors.

Jasmines prefer well-drained soil, regular moisture, and full sun to partial shade. Some species tolerate cooler climates, but many require warm temperatures and protection from frost. They are commonly trained on trellises, fences, or grown as ground-cover shrubs. Propagation is usually by semi-hardwood cuttings or layering; sowing seeds is less common.

Uses include ornamental horticulture, perfumery, and flavoring. Jasmine essential oil and absolutes are staple ingredients in the perfume industry, and jasmine flowers are used to scent tea, notably jasmine tea in East Asia.

Symbolically, jasmine carries associations of purity, grace, and sensuous fragrance in many cultures. Jasminum sambac, known as sampaguita, is the national flower of the Philippines and is widely used in garlands in South Asia.