| Jasminum flexile var.hookerianum | ||
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| A native of Thailand and SE Asia this species has never been offered in commercial horticulture outside Asia and is usually only found in botanical collections there. It is free flowering when grown in a mild position in Europe and needs frost protection. We currently grow it under glass but it will withstand cold wet conditions and like many species already described a few isolated nights of light frost (-2 or -3c) will do little harm except burn some of the foliage off. With harder frost it re-shoots from below soil level in warm weather the following year. It has a distinctive habit of a lax scandent climbing shrub and has fleshy trifoliate leaves on weaving/semi twining stems. It makes a fine pot plant and is capable of flowering when only 10cm tall. The flowers are produced freely from midsummer onwards in terminal loosely spaced clusters. The flowers are medium sized and have a long tube and long bud. The petals are quite floppy and lax even when just open and fall backwards from the upright flower giving a reflexed look to each flower. The scent is significant but not overpowering like J.sambac and friends and has fresh light airy notes with an intoxicating sweet tone. A very rare and attractive species that makes a beautiful, healthy looking container grown specimen and larger when grown in the ground & easily trained against a wall or support. |