Common Name:

General Information

Jasminum odoratissimum is a straggling shrub growing up to 4 metres tall[].
The plant is cultivated in warm temperate areas for the essential oil obtained from the flowers[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire, Madeira, Canary Islands..

Habitat

Evergreen forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Members of this genus generally succeed in full sun or partial shade, preferring a fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil[]. Most members of this genus succeed in a good well-drained loam[, ].
Jasmine flowers are picked manually between dawn and 10 a.m., during the hot season in India even between 3 - 8 a.m. Preferably only half-opened and fresh fully opened flowers must be picked, not buds or old (yellowish) flowers, as these will depress the quality of the essential oil. Although rain makes the flowers almost useless, picking flowers in the rain should continue, to promote further flowering[].
An experienced picker can harvest 0.5 kg flowers per hour, but the pickers are usually young women and children, who achieve 2 kg in 5 hours[].
Jasmine flowers must be quickly processed, since delay substantially reduces essential oil content. Flowers should be kept shaded and cool between picking and processing and the processing facility should be close to the plantation. Freshly picked flowers can be stored in polythene bags at 15°c without loss of yield, quality or odour[].
Jasmine oil can be obtained from flowers by steam distillation but the yield is very low. Jasmine concrete is obtained from flowers, formerly by enfleurage, currently by solvent extraction. In solvent extraction, flowers are washed up to 3 times with petroleum ether or, preferably, with hydrocarbon-free food-grade hexane; the extract is then distilled to remove the solvent, resulting in the concrete. Concrete is usually produced at the plantation, but absolute is produced where convenient, often in another country[].
The flowers have a heavy sweet perfume[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The flowers are used for flavouring or scenting tea[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery[, ]. The flowers are picked soon after opening each morning and used fresh for oil extraction[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very easy.
Cuttings of mature wood in November.
Layering.

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