Jasmine Tree Pruning
Though many plants with white, sometimes night-blooming flowers are called jasmine, only one species can grow to be an actual tree. Coral jasmine, or night jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), is native to areas of northern India, Pakistan, Thailand and Nepal, where it is steeped in mythology, esteemed as a sacred plant and frequently grown outside of monasteries. Left unpruned, coral jasmine can become a relatively tall tree, growing up to 30 feet, but it is usually pruned back to the size of a shrub or small tree.
Pruning for Shape
The optimal time to prune coral jasmine is just after it wraps up its flowering period, usually from June through October when growing in the Northern Hemisphere. Young plants grown from seed should have their central leaders pinched back when they're about 4 inches tall to encourage side branching and prevent a leggy, stretched-out appearance. Once coral jasmine is established, you can prune it back by half its overall height each year. In its native territory, where it's used medicinally, the plant is frequently subjected to severe pruning -- and can readily regenerate from even a few inches of stump. Clip off any wayward branches to groom the shrub into more of a rounded shape; it can become shaggy in appearance when allowed to grow unchecked. Use sharp, clean, disinfected pruning shears and clean them after each use.
Jasmine Tree Care
Coral jasmine is relatively easy to care for, requiring little in the way of watering or fertilizing. It does require full sun for best growth and appearance, though it will tolerate some light shade. Water deeply but infrequently, about once a week or less, and make sure the soil is almost dry before the next watering. Plant coral jasmine in a clay pot filled with a quick-draining medium with plenty of compost to help facilitate better drainage and drying. Root rot is a problem with overwatered plants. Frequent pruning during coral jasmine’s active growth phase encourages heavier branching, a denser overall appearance and more prolific flower production.
Flower Characteristics and Uses
In its native range, coral jasmine usually flowers from June through December. This plant is famous for its night-blooming habit: The 1-inch wide, star-shaped flowers unfurl overnight to reveal a bright orange central corolla tube that's pungently aromatic and deeply sweet. A yellow clothing dye is extracted from the flower, which must be harvested at night. Coral jasmine’s name of “arbor-tristis,” translates to “tree of sorrow,” a dramatic nickname earned for the plant’s habit of curling up its flowers into teardrop-shaped buds shortly after sunrise. These then begin to fall and blanket the surrounding area in a fragrant carpet of spent flowers.
Coral Jasmine Facts
Though relatively hardy in its native range, coral jasmine definitely falls into the tender tropical category in the United States, where it is cold hardy only from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. In most areas, it must be brought indoors during the winter months, because it needs warm temperatures of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive. Fortunately, coral jasmine does well as a container plant, so even gardeners who don’t live in warm climates can enjoy the luscious fragrance of this plant.
- Fragrant Flowers for Homes and Gardens; S.C. Dey
- The Himalayan Times: Parijat: Tree of Sorrow
- World Agroforestry Center: Nyctanthes Arbor-tristis
- Top Tropicals: Nyctanthes Arbor-tristis
- E-Floras: Flora of Pakistan: Nyctanthes Arbor-tristis
- Gardino Nursery: Nyctanthes Arbor-tristis
- Logee's Tropical Plants: Nyctanthes Cultural Information