Jasmine is famous less for its looks than its scent — small, star-shaped white flowers that release an intoxicating fragrance, especially in the evening. It’s woven into perfume, tea, garlands, and gardens across the world.
Jasmine at a glance
- Botanical name: Jasminum
- Family: Oleaceae
- Bloom season: summer (varies by type)
- Symbolism: purity, love, and sensuality
About the jasmine
Jasmine is a group of climbing and shrubby plants with delicate white (or sometimes yellow) blooms and a sweet, heady perfume. Its scent grows stronger at night to attract pollinating moths. Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) is used for jasmine tea and is the national flower of both Indonesia (melati) and the Philippines (sampaguita).
Jasmine meaning and symbolism
Jasmine symbolizes purity, love, and sensuality, and it’s a sacred flower in many cultures — the national flower of Indonesia and the Philippines.
Types of jasmine
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- Common jasmine (J. officinale) — the classic fragrant climber
- Arabian jasmine (J. sambac) — used for tea and garlands
- Winter jasmine (J. nudiflorum) — yellow flowers in winter
- Star jasmine — a fragrant look-alike that isn’t a true jasmine
How to grow and care for jasmine
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Grow in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil
- Give climbing types a trellis or support
- Water regularly, especially in summer
- Prune after flowering to keep it tidy
- Protect tender types from frost or grow them in containers
Jasmine FAQs
When does jasmine bloom?
It depends on the type — most jasmine blooms in summer, while winter jasmine flowers in the cold months. Many varieties flower over a long season.
Is star jasmine a true jasmine?
No. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum) is a different plant that earned its name from its similar fragrance and star-shaped white flowers, but it is not a true Jasminum.
Why does jasmine smell stronger at night?
Many jasmines release more scent in the evening to attract night-flying pollinators like moths, which is why the fragrance seems to intensify after dark.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.