# Jasmine (*Jasminum officinale*)

Jasmine is a fragrant flower loved for its sweet smell. It blooms in white or yellow clusters and is often used to make perfumes and teas.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens
- **Also known as:** Arabian Jasmine, Common Jasmine, Jasminum, Spanish Jasmine

![Jasmine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Jasminum_officinale-IMG_3470.jpg&width=800)

Photo: C T Johansson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jasminum_officinale-IMG_3470.jpg)

## Appearance

The Jasmine has slender, often climbing stems with glossy dark green leaves. Its small, star-shaped flowers are typically pure white or creamy yellow, standing out against the foliage with their delicate petals and charming appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Oleaceae
- **Genus:** Jasminum

## Interesting facts

- In many parts of India, jasmine flowers are used in religious ceremonies and cultural festivals!
- It takes thousands of jasmine flowers to produce just a tiny bottle of its precious essential oil!
- Jasmine oil is a very popular ingredient in aromatherapy, often used for its calming properties!
- The dried flowers of jasmine are sometimes used to flavor delicious desserts like ice cream or puddings!

## Special abilities

- **Scented Beacon:** Jasmine can release a powerful, sweet fragrance, especially at night, to attract nocturnal insect pollinators to its flowers.
- **Climbing Power:** Jasmine has flexible, twining stems that allow it to climb and sprawl over supports, reaching for sunlight.
- **Year-Round Green:** Some Jasmine varieties have evergreen leaves, keeping their vibrant green color throughout the entire year.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 300-500 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps spread pollen for reproduction.
- **Eaten by:** Cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Feeds on sap, potentially weakening plants.
- **Shelter:** [Common blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Nests among its dense, protective foliage.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
- [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy the beauty of jasmine flowers but avoid touching or ingesting them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Jasmine?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Jasmine?

300-500 cm

### How wide does Jasmine spread?

100-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on Jasmine?

1-2.5 cm

### When does Jasmine bloom?

Summer

### Is Jasmine edible?

Yes

### Is Jasmine toxic?

None

### What is Jasmine's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Jasmine: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jasmine)