Fragrant blooms and cool-loving nature make pink jasmine the perfect winter houseplant

December 27, 2012|By Sean Conway, Tribune Media Services | Cultivating Life by Sean Conway
  • Pink jasmine.
Pink jasmine. (Stock imageTMS)

My office is warm and sunny, with windows facing towards the south, west, and north. Sunlight bathes large patches of the carpeted floor creating the ideal spot for Mugsy, our French bulldog, to stretch out for his daily nap while I work on the computer.

The warm dry air makes it difficult for most houseplants to thrive, so I have resorted to growing various forms of succulent plants called kalanchoes. Native to Madagascar, these drought-tolerant plants are grown for their interesting fuzzy, gray-green, brown-tipped foliage rather than for showy flowers. After Mugsy, they garner the most interest from office visitors.

The idea of growing houseplants from far off places like Madagascar is not a new one. In 19th-century England, a growing fascination with the natural world fueled an interest in "exotic" plants from the farthest corners of the British Empire.

Early on, hardy plants such as ferns and the popular aspidistra, or cast iron plant, were popular in part because they were able to withstand the dark, drafty conditions of early Victorian homes before central heating improved.

As time passed and conditions in homes improved, people became enamored with flowering house plants. All "fashionable" homes had houseplants, and Victorian era architecture gave rise to bay windows in which to grow them.

Plants such as flowering maples, fuchsias, begonias and camellias all were popular plants that thrived in the cool temperatures of Victorian homes, and they are still popular choices today.

The Victorians were also fond of growing fragrant plants -- jasmine was a particular favorite. Many types of jasmine thrive when grown in cool conditions and one in particular stands out. Jasminum polyanthum is a wiry evergreen vine native to southwest China. Its sweet, intoxicating fragrance can permeate a room and is especially welcome during the months of January and February, when this easy-to-grow plant blooms.

An abundance of five-petalled, star-shaped flowers are produced from reddish-pink buds. Often referred to pink jasmine, its ability to produce massive amounts of flowers on young plants makes it a favorite for commercial growers.

Pink jasmine is a fast growing plant that can reach upwards of 18-20 feet tall when grown outside in warm climates. Fortunately, it will happily grow in a container indoors and responds well to judicious pruning.

Pink jasmine grows best when placed outdoors for the summer in a location that receives filtered sunlight. It should be kept evenly moist and be grown in a container that allows ample drainage. Feed your plant with any general-purpose water-soluble plant food, following directions on the label.

Like most vines Pink Jasmine prefers to grow with some support such as a hoop trellis inserted into it's pot. Wrapping the plant's wiry stems around the hoop keeps the growth neat and allows for ample flower production.

After growing outdoors for the summer, bring your plant inside before the first frost. Place it in a window that receives plenty of bright light and at least 4 hours of direct sun.

Jasmine prefers cool temperatures so avoid placing it directly in a south-facing window unless the temperature in the room is kept at 60 or below.

In fact in order to stimulate flower production your plant should be grown in a cool room with temperatures between 45 and 60 degrees from the time you bring the plant inside until sometime in January.

One commercial grower I know raises his plants in temperatures as low as 40 degrees with amazing results.

After the buds have formed and are close to blooming, you can move the plant to a warmer temperature. The increased warmth will cause your plant to burst into bloom. Just remember that the flowers will last longer in a cooler room than a warm one.

After flowering finishes repot into fresh soil, and cut the plant back. Later in the spring, when the danger of frost has passed, move the plant back outside for the summer.

Once you have coaxed the pink jasmine into bloom and smelled its sweet scent, you will understand what makes it so sought after in the middle of winter.
