There are more than 200 different jasmine species, all of which are native to temperate or tropical climates. They come in different shapes and forms, all with small, sweet-smelling flowers that explode into color at some time during the year. Some species bloom for just a few months, others will bloom all year round.
So, when does jasmine bloom? Different types of jasmine bloom at different times. But in general, you can expect to enjoy their pretty fragrant flowers from early spring until well into the fall. If you plant a few different species in your garden, you could have blooms all year round.
What time of year does jasmine flower?
Jasmine belongs to the olive family. Two main types of jasmine are the common jasmine and star jasmine. Both are deer-resistant and virtually disease-free.
Common jasmine, Jasminum officinale, is a large, deciduous climbing shrub that may also be grown as a vine or ground cover. It is also suitable for container gardens. Left to climb, common jasmine will reach a height of up to 10-15 feet tall.
Jasminum Officionale is native to Asia and will grow well in USDA plant hardiness zones 7-10. You can expect to have jasmine flowers from late spring, well through the summer months.
Star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, is a medium-sized shrub that has dark green leaves on twining vine-like stems. It is valued more for its glossy, green leaves that turn to shades of bronze rather than its sweet-smelling white flowers.
And, the shock of shocks, it isn’t true jasmine at all. But you will still find information about it in Jasmine fact sheets including the one issued by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service’s Home & Garden Information Center.
Also known as Confederate jasmine, star jasmine is often used as a climbing vine to cover walls and fences. It got this name in the 19th century when it was first imported from China and became popular in the south.
Trachelospermum jasminoides is native to China and Japan and it grows well in USDA plant hardiness zones 8-10. It usually flowers from mid-spring to early summer.
Factors that affect jasmine from blooming
Generally, jasmine is semi-hardy to hardy and the different species have similar needs. But you must be sure that you plant it in the right position where it will be exposed to sufficient sunlight.
It also needs to be planted in suitable soil conditions and given sufficient moisture to thrive. It won’t bloom if your climate isn’t suitable.
Position & Light
Jasmine does best in full sun to partially shaded areas, depending on the type or species.
For instance, the spring-flowering Jasminum Polyanthum grows in both sun and sem-shade, while the autumn-flowering Jasminum sambac prefers full sun. Clotted Cream, a summer-flowering Jasminum officinale plant also prefers full sun.
Temperature
Jasmine is typically semi-hardy to hardy and will thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 7-10. This means that they will grow in temperatures ranging from about 0-5℉ to 35-40℉.
But all types do prefer warm temperatures.
According to the Clemson Home & Garden Information Center fact sheet, if you grow Confederate jasmine indoors, the ideal day temperatures range from 68-72℉, and night temperatures should be between 50 and 55℉.
Soil Preference
A good rule of thumb is to plant jasmine in well-drained soil that is rich and fertile. Add compost to improve the fertility of the soil.
Moisture
Most types of jasmine have moderate water needs, so keep the soil moist.
How long does jasmine bloom?
Here are some examples:
Jasminum Polyanthum blooms from late winter through spring. Its fragrant flowers last for only a few days at a time. But they are constantly replaced by new blooms throughout the flowering season.
Jasminum sambac, which is commonly called Arabian jasmine, flowers from late winter until the following fall. You can grow it as a twining vine, but interestingly, it only blooms at night!
Jasminum officinale Clotted Cream flowers throughout the summer months. It has larger jasmine flowers with more fragrance than most other varieties.
Jasminum nudiflorum, also known as winter jasmine, blooms in winter and early spring. It’s a deciduous, Viney shrub with a natural growth habit to climb and spread upwards.
But this jasmine plant also makes a great bank cover. It spreads by rooting naturally when the stems touch the soil, instantly becoming a ground cover.
Jasminum Angulare, an evergreen vine that is only hardy in coastal areas, blooms in summer. Unlike almost all other types of jasmine, its white flowers don’t have any scent.
Trachelospermum jasminoides blooms in the spring and summer months.
How do you get jasmine to bloom?
As mentioned above, jasmine needs the right conditions to flower. Plant it in the right environment where the conditions are close to its natural habitat, and it will bloom.
If it is too dry, or if you plant jasmine in the shade, it might grow, but it’s unlikely to flower.
If you want to encourage rapid growth, a nitrogen-based fertilizer will usually do the trick. But the caveat is that it will tend to feed the foliage rather than the flowers. Also, you can use fertilizer or a nutrient that will boost flowering.
Shop around and see what your local suppliers suggest, or what is available online. One suggestion is a water-soluble 7-9-5 fertilizer designed to boost flowering.
A 15-15-15 fertilizer can also work in spring and summer. Discontinue in the winter months.
If you want to get your jasmine to bloom, rather fertilize with plant food that is laden with phosphorus. This will encourage buds to develop and form healthy flowers. At the very least, use a good quality, standard balanced fertilizer.
Don’t forget that jasmine generally likes to be watered regularly. Also, some types need a degree of humidity to bloom properly.
If you’re going to prune jasmine, make sure you do it in midsummer. Many amateur gardeners have hacked off the next season’s buds before they have fully formed!
That said, heavy pruning of most species will ensure that you get more and bigger blooms when it flowers again.
When grown indoors, it’s a good idea to keep the soil of your jasmine plants a little moister than you would if grown outside in your garden. Just make sure it doesn’t become waterlogged or it will be counterproductive and the plants aren’t likely to flower at all.
If any type of jasmine is grown indoors and you want it to bloom, you will need to ensure it gets at least four hours of sunlight every day.
Why is my jasmine not flowering?
Once your jasmine is growing, it should be a matter of time before it starts to flower. If it doesn’t flower, rethink the growing conditions you have subjected it to.
While we’ve detailed the recommended conditions above, don’t forget that the right temperature and light conditions are essential for jasmine to flower. All jasmine species need full sun for at least part of the day if they are going to flower.
What to do if your jasmine doesn’t bloom?
Here are some steps you can take if your jasmine doesn’t bloom.
If it’s growing in the shade, replant your jasmine plant so that it gets at least six hours of direct sun every day in spring and summer. If you’ve got space against a sunny south-facing wall, it’s more likely to flower there.
If your jasmine has been under-watered, it isn’t going to flower, because it’s likely to be suffering from drought stress. You can usually identify the symptoms from curling leaves, poor growth, and, of course, a lack of flowers.
To check, gently dig around the roots of your jasmine plant. If the soil has dried out in spring this can be very damaging because it will prevent new flower buds from developing.
Try changing your watering regime and ensure that the soil stays moist all the time. Don’t give it too much water to try and compensate because this will also stop the plant from flowering.
If your potted jasmine isn’t flowering, a lack of water might be to blame. Remember that pots can dry out very quickly if you don’t water them regularly.
You might also try repotting the plant into a bigger container where there will be good air circulation around the roots. As long as it isn’t too windy, keeping the pot near open windows or an open door can help to circulate air around the plant itself.
Conclusion
The heady scent of jasmine growing in the garden is enough to persuade most gardeners to grow at least one type of jasmine. So, if your jasmine doesn’t flower, it can be heartbreaking.
Before you plant jasmine, make sure your climate conditions are suitable. Since different species flower at different times, check the label to see when you can expect your jasmine plants to flower.
Follow our garden tips to make sure that the conditions in your garden meet the general needs of jasmine. These include temperature, soil conditions, plant nutrition (fertilization), and exposure to light.
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