Jasmine – A Tropical Scent for All Seasons

The best thing about Jasmine in the Southwest Florida garden is that there are so many varieties available, but I am going to narrow it down to a few local favorites. 

It is mid-July on Marco Island and the ambiance outside is heavy with the heat and humidity after an afternoon thunderstorm. The outdoors is lush and green, and the aromatic plants seem to infuse the air with their intense fragrances. Remember brushing against a rosemary bush and being instantly transported to the memory of a favorite recipe for roasted chicken with rosemary? According to sensory experts, “fragrance is one of the most powerful triggers that bring back childhood memories.”

When we moved to sub-tropical Florida some 15 years ago, I wanted to cultivate plants not just for their colors but for their unique tropical scents. I also noticed that fragrance was often missing in the local landscape. Though there are over 20 varieties of jasmine, and the weather in Southwest Florida is a big bonus to planting Jasmine, it is not easy finding a single variety of jasmine that will provide a succession of blooms year-round. You’ll need to plant several varieties that will blossom alternately with each season.

Many varieties of fragrant blooming Jasmine in your garden are guaranteed to awaken your senses – sometimes, it is fruity, floral, or even woodsy. But some varieties don’t have any scent at all.

Stop and Smell the Jasmine

Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is sometimes called Star Jasmine. This variety is very common and can grow anywhere. It is best grown as a woody vine draped over a backyard doorway or over a privacy fence. It has deep glossy green leaves, and every six months, they put forth pearly white flowers with an intoxicating fragrance that seems to hang heavy in the air. Confederate jasmine is also used as a rambling groundcover tolerating heavy pruning. As a bonus, the Confederate jasmine is a popular plant during the blooming season attracting bees, insects, and birds feasting on the ripe red berries. 

When in bloom, you can smell the scent of Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata) before you see the shrub. The scent has been described as sweet and fruity like the rind of a ripe orange. As a small shrub, this is perfect for a row of hedges or a standalone in the landscape. I have several orange jasmine shrubs and when in bloom, it is buzzing with activity with birds competing for the red berries. This is also easy to propagate with cuttings.

Grand Duke of Tuscany, or Jasmine ambac or Sampaguita, (an Arabian Jasmine cultivar) is the superstar in my collection and a personal favorite. It bears large heavenly-scented double white blooms resembling mini roses at the tip of ruffled green leaves. This makes a perfect patio plant and thrives well in a large clay pot in a sunny spot. It is also the National Flower for several Asian countries, such as the Philippines where no celebration is complete without a garland of delicate Sampaguita around your neck – the scent reminding expatriates of home. The blossom is a favorite for foraging honeybees. It is easy to propagate from cuttings - I’ve given this Jasmine as gifts to friends.

The Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine is special! When in bloom, I collect the fresh or dried buds to flavor my freshly brewed bergamot-infused Earl Grey loose-leaf tea. Tea leaves seem to easily absorb the fragrance of this Jasmine flower making a cup of this brew floral, aromatic and so special. Though there are other Jasmine blooms in the garden, only this variety pairs well with brewed black tea or loose-leaf green or oolong tea. 

You can find tea bags flavored with jasmine at your local market. Jasmine tea is made of two ingredients – green tea or black tea with the infused scent of Jasmine. For a transformative tea experience, there is nothing like using the freshly picked buds of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine. Another reason to add this Jasmine variety to your collection.