Arabian jasmine

A small white flower whose scent fills the courtyard after sunset.

Scientific name: Jasminum sambac
Family: Olive family
Also known as: Full, Sambac jasmine

Ornamentals

Arabian jasmine is grown for its scent before its looks. The flower itself is small, white and unremarkable, but the fragrance intensifies after sundown and carries across an entire courtyard. Plant it beside an outdoor majlis or a window you open in the evening — not at the far end of the garden.

At a glance

Plant typeShrub or climber
WateringEvery 1–2 weeks
LightPart shade
Comfortable range20 – 38 °C
Height50 cm – 1 m
Spread1.8 – 3 m
FloweringMid spring through autumn

Care guide

Watering

Even moisture every one to two weeks. Jasmine comes from the tropics and wants more humidity than most plants on this list; in a dry summer, misting the foliage in the evening helps lift the humidity around it.

Light and heat

Part shade suits it best. Full sun all day through a Saudi summer scorches the leaf edges — an east-facing spot that catches only morning sun is ideal.

Soil and feeding

Rich, free-draining soil. Feed fortnightly with a half-strength high-nitrogen mix through the growing season to sustain repeat flowering, easing off in winter.

Pruning

Prune in late spring after the first flush to encourage new growth that will carry flowers. Avoid hard pruning — it costs you a season of bloom.

Propagation

Cuttings 10–15 cm long from non-flowering stems, lower leaves stripped, rooting hormone applied, kept humid.

In Saudi conditions

In the dry interior, grow jasmine in a movable container or in a part-shaded spot against a wall that shelters it from afternoon sun and hot summer wind.