| Jasminum sambac ‘Maid of Orleans’ | ||||
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| Without doubt this variety has the undoubted ability of being able to withstand more frost than all other Jasminum sambac with the exception of Jasminum sambac form 1(Philippines). Hard experience last winter led us to this revelation and having kept them above 10c/50f for over 10 years I was astounded to see this variety keeping its wood live above the soil. Die back was about two thirds of total growth and it was the first Jasmine sambac variety to recover in spring. Maid of Orleans has an almost identical habit to Grand Duke of Tuscany but is slightly more vigorous and has very slightly larger oval leaves ( not with any wavy edges) which are flat and the leaf nodes are more evenly and widely spaced being perfectly opposite to each other on the stem. The flower bud is bullet shaped and then opens to reveal a true semi double or double pure white flower with excellent scent. The flower is smaller than Belle of India and the Grand Duke and even our bog standard basic Jasminum sambac form one. The flowering is quite variable (within reason) and it is not unusual to have flowers with different petal arrangements out at the same time although to the untrained eye they look nearly identical. It is a repeat bloomer and is very easy to keep in perpetual flower from late spring through until late autumn. Its increased vigour necessitates an annual visit to the hairdresser which is best done in late winter early spring. Once established its an idea to cut them back hard to say a 3” framework which then means that the plant is ideally suited to windowsills and places near your senses and of course the plant will have fresh regular growth of equal length and flowering over its entire spread if pruned in this manner. |