Pink jasmine

When supported, the plant can grow up to 6 metres (20 feet) in height. The compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets are dark green on the upper surface and a lighter green beneath, with glabrous, terete or angular branches. The terminal leaflet is noticeably larger than the other leaflets.

Inflorescence. The species is heterostylous, meaning that a few distinct flower morphs (forms) are available, though each plant bears only one morph. In late winter and early spring it produces an abundance of reddish-pink flower buds, followed by fragrant five-petalled starry white flowers which are about 2 cm (3⁄4 inch) in diameter. The bracts are subulate (tapering to a point), 1-6 mm. Each flower is carried by a pedicel (single stalk) of 0.5 - 2.5cm (1⁄5 - 1 inch) The calyx forms a 1-2 mm tube terminating in 5 triangular or subulate-linear lobes, only 2 mm long, and a corolla, white, with a red underside and red buttons. The fruit is a black, globular berry.

The plant is native to the mountainous areas of Southwest China, particularly Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan, as well as Myanmar. It lives in valleys and forests at elevations between 1,400 and 3,000 m (4,600 and 9,800 ft).

Jasminum polyanthum is well known as a house plant in the US and Europe. It grows fast and easily, and flowers well. It can also grow in the garden, when climate conditions are good; but it cannot tolerate freezing temperatures (USDA hardiness zones: 8 - 11). Outside it can be used to cover walls and fences etc., in suitable climates, in sun or light shade. It is propagated by seed and by suckers. Jasminum polyanthum was given the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the RHS in 1993. It was chosen on the Bicentenary list of 200 plants for the RHS: “This popular houseplant is an easily-grown, evergreen, half-hardy climber with loose panicles in summer of many strongly-fragrant pink-backed, white, trumpet-shaped flowers. It does not suffer pest or disease problems and is simple to propagate.”