Heaven Scent?

One of the best climbers for providing a screen near to the house is Jasmine. Requiring a framework to cling to, they are generally vigorous and provide us with the wonderful scent during its summer flowering period.

The common jasmine (Jasminun officinale) is usually seen covering garden fences and, once established, requires little water during the summer- although it positively thrives if given the occasional soaking.

Search around though and you may find some other species or varieties.

Jasminum polyanthum is a light and airy climber, but is a little more delicate than the common jasmine and appreciates a little more water. The buds of this plant are pink but the flowers open up white. The flowering season tends not to be earlier than the common jasmine, being from spring to midsummer. It is reputedly good for growing in a container.

Spanish Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) actually comes from Asia. It is deciduous and needs a little more care than the common jasmine. It does, however, produce much larger, heavily scented flowers.

The Azores jasmine (Jasminum azoricum) will grow as a shrub under dry and poor conditions. However, given a little love and attention, it grows as an evergreen climber. Incidentally, I have also heard this plant called the Madeira Jasmine and the Canary Island Jasmine. Of course, plants also have common Greek names (one of Jasmines’ is Yasemi) and it is for this reason I always try to give you an internationally accepted Latin name.

Arabian Jasmine (Jasminum sambac) has a wide distribution area and is another evergreen with white flowers, but these are open at night and are very strongly scented. It is from the flowers of this plant that the Chinese make jasmine tea. Reaching about 3 metres in height, this is another jasmine that is suited to growing in a large container.

Just to highlight what I was saying earlier about common names, the Star Jasmine (Trachylospermum jasminoides) is not a jasmine at all and belongs to the same family as the Oleander (Nerium oleander). It has polished evergreen leaves and bears scented, white, jasmine-like flowers in early summer.

A word of warning. The above plants need a support to twine around/clamber over. In nature this would probably be a tree. Flimsy/ poorly attached supports may allow a young plant to grow but as they develop they get quite heavy. Ensure that all support works are constructed of sturdy materials and are adequately attached to the wall/posts.

Next month I will discuss vegetables. We’ll visit with Minas Petrakis, our local organic grower, and check out his farm in Gournes.