Bloom Windows: Indoors vs Outdoors โ€” When each major species flowers in containers versus open ground โ€” the same species blooms on a different calendar depending on where it grows.

Jasmine Varieties

A botanical catalogue of the world's most important jasmine species

Visual Species Catalogue

Arabian Jasmine
J. sambac
White Star-shaped 8 petals
Royal Jasmine
J. grandiflorum
White Pink reverse Large
Common Jasmine
J. officinale
White 5 petals Cold-hardy
Japanese Jasmine
J. mesnyi
Yellow Large blooms
Winter Jasmine
J. nudiflorum
Yellow Winter bloomer
Italian Jasmine
J. humile
Yellow Semi-double
Pink Jasmine
J. polyanthum
White+Pink Climber
Red Jasmine
J. beesianum
Deep pink Rare

Major Commercial Species

Jasminum sambac

Arabian Jasmine
Origin: South & Southeast Asia Flower Color: White Bloom Season: Year-round (tropics)

The most commercially important jasmine species worldwide. Produces intensely fragrant, star-shaped flowers 2โ€“3 cm across. Used in perfumery, jasmine tea production, and religious ceremonies. National flower of the Philippines and Indonesia.

PerfumeryTea ScentingReligiousMedicinalOrnamental

Jasminum grandiflorum

Royal Jasmine / Spanish Jasmine
Origin: South Asia, Western Himalayas Flower Color: White (pink reverse) Bloom Season: August โ€“ October

The dominant species in French and Italian perfumery. Larger flowers (up to 5 cm), with a more complex, slightly animalic scent. Cultivated in Grasse, Calabria, and India. Yields exceptionally valuable absolute.

High PerfumeryAbsolute ProductionOrnamental

Jasminum officinale

Common Jasmine / Poet's Jasmine
Origin: Northern Iran to Caucasus Flower Color: White Bloom Season: June โ€“ September

The most cold-hardy fragrant species, tolerating temperatures down to -15ยฐC (5ยฐF). A vigorous climbing vine reaching 6 meters. Widely used as an ornamental plant across temperate regions.

OrnamentalLight PerfumeryGarden Plant

Jasminum mesnyi

Japanese Jasmine / Primrose Jasmine
Origin: China, Vietnam Flower Color: Yellow Bloom Season: Late winter โ€“ early spring

A semi-evergreen scrambling shrub with large (3โ€“4 cm), pale yellow flowers. One of the earliest jasmine species to bloom. Often confused with J. nudiflorum but with larger flowers.

OrnamentalEarly Bloomer

Jasminum nudiflorum

Winter Jasmine
Origin: China Flower Color: Yellow Bloom Season: November โ€“ March

A deciduous, scrambling shrub that blooms on bare stems in winter. Flowers are small (1โ€“2 cm), bright yellow, and virtually scentless. Extremely cold-hardy (to -23ยฐC / -10ยฐF).

OrnamentalWinter InterestGround Cover

Jasminum polyanthum

Pink Jasmine
Origin: China, Myanmar Flower Color: White (pink buds) Bloom Season: February โ€“ April

A vigorous, twining climber producing masses of small, highly fragrant flowers from pink buds. One of the most popular garden jasmine species worldwide. Can reach 6 meters in a single season.

OrnamentalFragranceWall Covering

Jasminum beesianum

Red Jasmine
Origin: China (Yunnan, Sichuan) Flower Color: Deep pink to red Bloom Season: May โ€“ June

The rarest jasmine color โ€” produces deep pink to reddish flowers, unique in the genus. Intensely fragrant with a sweet, raspberry-like undertone. Prized by collectors and used in breeding programs.

Collector's PlantBreeding StockOrnamental
๐Ÿงช Test Your Knowledge
1Which species is the most commercially important jasmine worldwide?
AJ. nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine)
BJ. mesnyi (Primrose Jasmine)
CJ. sambac (Arabian Jasmine)
DJ. beesianum (Red Jasmine)
โœ… J. sambac dominates perfumery, jasmine tea, and religious use โ€” and is the national flower of the Philippines and Indonesia.
2Which jasmine is the most cold-hardy fragrant species?
AJ. officinale, tolerating about -15ยฐC (5ยฐF)
BJ. sambac, tolerating about -15ยฐC (5ยฐF)
CJ. grandiflorum, tolerating about -15ยฐC (5ยฐF)
DNo fragrant jasmine survives frost
โœ… J. officinale (Common/Poet's Jasmine) is the most cold-hardy fragrant species, tolerating roughly -15ยฐC. J. nudiflorum is hardier still (-23ยฐC) but virtually scentless.
3Which species produces deep pink to red flowers โ€” the rarest color in the genus?
AJ. polyanthum
BJ. beesianum
CJ. humile
DJ. mesnyi
โœ… J. beesianum (Red Jasmine) from Yunnan and Sichuan is the only jasmine with deep pink to red flowers โ€” prized by collectors and breeding programs.
4Which species is the dominant absolute source for French high perfumery?
AJ. nudiflorum
BJ. mesnyi
CJ. humile
DJ. grandiflorum
โœ… J. grandiflorum (Royal/Spanish Jasmine) dominates Grasse and Calabria perfumery, yielding the West's benchmark jasmine absolute.