Species
Jasminum polyanthum
Etymology
Jasminum: Believed to be derived from 'ysmyn', the Arabic name for Jasmine.
Common Name(s)
jasmine
Family
Oleaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Lianes and Related Trailing Plants
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Features
Perennial, evergreen, climbing, almost hairless, non-woody vine. Stems round, tough, very long, rooting at nodes. Leaves opposite, pinnate with usually 7 leaflets, terminal leaflet up to 7 x 2.5 cm, others smaller, all entire. Flowers clustered in panicles, tube-like, up to 25 mm diameter, very fragrant, white, pink in bud, Jan-Dec. Berries glossy black, 5-8 mm diameter, rarely formed.
Similar Taxa
Easily identified climber with opposite palmately compound leaves and fragrant pink and white flowers.
Flowering
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Flower Colours
Red / Pink,White
Year Naturalised
1980
Origin
W China
Reason for Introduction
Ornamental
Life Cycle and Dispersal
Evergreen perennial. Can spread from cuttings and grows from any small section of stem material. The viability of the seed in the seed bank is unknown (Wotherspoon 1996). In NZ, seeds were rare, but are now found on plants in some areas; produces few seeds. Sets viable seed (Fromont and King, 1992). The seed is dispersed by birds.
Tolerances
The plant is intolerant of more than a few degrees of frost and only grows vigorously in warmer areas (Webb et. al. 1988). Tolerant of frost, shade and moisture. Can flower under a full canopy (Fromont and King, 1992).
References and further reading
Johnson, A. T. and Smith, H. A (1986). Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd: Buckenhill, UK.
Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1988). Flora of New Zealand, volume IV. Naturalise Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. DSIR Botany Division. 1365pp.
This page last updated on 30 Jul 2014