Murraya Paniculata | Orange Jessamine-Orange Jasmine

Murraya Paniculata | Orange Jessamine-Orange Jasmine

Murraya paniculata, commonly known as orange jasmine, orange jessamine, china box or mock orange, is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Rutaceae and is native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Filling the air with the sweet smell of orange blossoms, orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata) is a welcome addition to any tropical garden. It is included within the Rutaceae (citrus) family and is known as orange jessamine, mock orange, chalcas, or satinwood. Orange jasmine is a great choice if you’re looking to attract bees, birds, or butterflies to your garden. Caring for Murraya orange jasmine is also surprisingly simple. This lovely plant is a compact evergreen shrub with oval, shiny, deep green leaves that can get up to 2 3/4 inches long, extending from interesting, gnarled branches. At maturity, which can take three to four years, it can grown to 8 to 12 feet tall and wide, creating a large, round shrub. New plants are best planted in spring. Clusters of small, fragrant flowers bloom in spring, followed by bright reddish-orange berries in summer. The flowers are very fragrant and smell like orange blossoms, and flowering will occur year-round. The red fruit is 1/2 to 1 inch long and is prized by birds.

Light

Orange jasmine plants require protection from hot, direct sunlight. Locate the plant where it receives morning sunlight and afternoon shade, or where it will get broken sunlight or dappled shade all day. Plants grown indoors do well in a bright room or on a sunny windowsill.

Plant orange jasmine in well-drained soil that is free of nematodes (roundworms). Well-drained soil is critical, as orange jasmine doesn’t do well in waterlogged soil. If your soil lacks drainage, improve soil conditions by adding organic material such as compost, chopped bark, or leaf mulch.

Water orange jasmine plants deeply whenever the top 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. As a general rule, once per week is about right. However, more frequent irrigation may be needed if you live in a hot climate or if the plant is in a container. Never allow it to stand in muddy soil or water.

As tropical plants, orange jasmine do best in humidity above 50 percent and must have temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, as they are not frost-tolerant. The plant can tolerate lower levels of humidity.

Fertilizer

Feed orange jasmine plants once every three to four weeks throughout the growing season (spring through fall), using a fertilizer designed for evergreen plants. Alternatively, if the plant is in a container, apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs.

Pruning

The orange jasmine grows very quickly while young and may need several prunings to keep its shape. Prune as needed to manage branches that are dead, damaged, or diseased. Avoid harsh pruning—it’s best not to remove more than one-eighth of the shrub’s total growth per year.

Potting and Repotting Orange Jasmine

Propagation of orange jasmine can be done with seeds or cuttings. it is typically easiest to propagate with stem-tip cuttings. Select a cutting from a portion of the plant that does not have flowers. Strip all leaves from the cutting, and plant it in warm peat, sand, or another rooting medium. If desired, add a rooting hormone to promote root growth. After the cutting has rooted, transfer it to a container. It should grow quickly once established in its new home.

Propagating Orange Jasmine

When grown in containers, orange jasmine should be repotted when it begins to outgrow the container. To transfer an established plant to a larger container, trim off any dead foliage, removing no more than one-eighth of the total growth. Water the roots thoroughly, then carefully dig up the plant and roots and transplant it to the new container. The roots are fragile, so be especially careful not to damage them in the process. It helps to moisten the soil in the old pot so you can pull out the plant and root ball along with the soil to transfer to the new container.

NOTE: Images are illustration purpose only. Actual item maybe different due to plants grow. Price may varies with Pots and Features.