Jasminum laurifolium var. nitidum - Angel-wing Jasmine

The Jasminum laurifolium var. nitidum is a rare jasmine in cultivation, more suited to container gardening than being planted in the ground due to its tender nature. It is a more or less climbing plant, with a prolonged and delicate flowering period, both in terms of the refined shape of its large flowers and their subtle fragrance. They open in the evening and at night, from delicate violet buds, against a backdrop of beautiful dark green foliage. Place it in a lovely pot, and it will perfume an entire area of the garden, balcony, or terrace on summer evenings.

Jasminum nitidum belongs to the Oleaceae family. This botanical species is sometimes called 'Angelwing jasmine' by English speakers, due to the very distinctive shape of its flowers, royal jasmine, or even shining jasmine. It is native to the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, where it is found in forests, thickets, scrub vegetation, and garrigues. Not very hardy, this jasmine perishes below -3°C (26.6°F). In its natural environment, it is a vigorous plant that can reach 6 meters (20 feet) in length. In tropical gardens, it is often pruned into a bush.

This sarmentous bush will remain relatively small in a pot, not exceeding 2.50 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) in height and can be maintained as a bush through regular pruning. Its growth rate is moderate. The flowering period is long, lasting at least three months, from June to September. The plant produces numerous clusters of flowers, approximately 5 cm (2in) in diameter. Each flower is composed of a tube that opens into 9 very narrow lobes, giving them the appearance of a spider. Their fragrance is both powerful and subtle, and they open in the evening and at night. The vegetation of this jasmine consists of long, flexible, and supple stems that weave their way through the branches of neighboring plants. They are not climbing and do not have any attachment system. The foliage is more or less evergreen, composed of leathery, elliptical leaves with undulate margins, 5 cm (2in) long, arranged oppositely on the stems. They are shiny dark green. The stems become woody and light brown with age, devoid of leaves. The fruit is a round, black berry, 6 mm (0in) in diameter when ripe.

In all regions, place this royal jasmine in a container on a terrace, so that it can be stored indoors during winter, and to fully enjoy its wonderful fragrance. However, avoid placing it near a bedroom with an open window; some claim that its fragrance disrupts sleep and can cause headaches. It can, for example, be paired with another climbing plant with a different or simultaneous flowering period, such as the Clematis 'Dancing Queen', the Sollya heterophylla, or even the Passiflora 'Essenza', for example.