SA Garden Catalogue: Arabian Jasmine

Although free flowering throughout the year, the Arabian Jasmine shrub in my little garden has started to bloom after a (floral) hiatus for some time. Every morning now I will stop to smell the small white jasmine flowers and their perfume is highly fragrant and aromatic.

Arabian jasmine (CNB 2012)

Common name: Arabian jasmine/Jasmine
Scientific name: Jasminum sambac
Malay name: Melur
Family: Oleaceae/ Jasmine
Origin: India

This plant loves the full sunshine and may be grown on the ground or in containers. Propagation is simply by cuttings. Although it grows easily and pruning produces new shoots and flowers, the plant is sometimes 'attacked' by spiders. The affected branches may be pruned away, and new ones will grow soon enough.

Jasmine flowers on its vine (CNB 2012)

In about a week's time the Spring Equinox, marking the start of spring in the northern hemisphere will occur. Day and night are equal before the days then become longer after the 20th March. In the garden, Spring is definitely in the air. Although the sky some times darkens and rumbles but it is only a threat, because mostly, no rain falls. At least not in Shah Alam. So there is the need to water the garden every day or else some plants, especially those in containers start to wilt.

A Jasmine plant in a container (CNB 2013)

Most of the plants in the garden are budding/flowering - the Chinese gardenia, Straits rhododendron, Thai jasmine, Crown of thorns, Hydrangea, Mock orange, Frangipani, and Torch ginger (I had harvested two buds and another two have come up, yay!).