Hawaiian Jasmine Plant Information

Hawaiian jasmine is known for its fragrant, white flowers.

Hawaiian jasmine has many names. Botanically it is known as Jasminum sambac. Its common names include the pikake and rose pikake. Sometimes this species is also known as Arabian jasmine. It is a flowering tropical vine with fragrant, five-petaled white flowers.

Origins

The common names are deceptive. Hawaiian jasmine is not native to Hawaii or the Arabian peninsula. It hails originally from India, Burma and Sri Lanka. The plant is a shrubby climber with stems that can reach 9 or 10 feet.

Uses

In Hawaii, pikake flowers are used in leis. In its native India, Jasminum sambac is sacred to the god Vishnu and used in religious ceremonies. The flowers are floated in water or tea to provide subtle scent and flavor.

Varieties

Jasminum sambac has been in cultivation for centuries. One of the most popular cultivars is the single-flowered Maid of Orleans. Double varieties include Grand Duke of Tuscany, sometimes also known as Flore Pleno.

References

• Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project (HEAR): Hawaiian Plants
• "Indoor and Greenhouse Plants, V 2 "; Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix; 1997
• "Hortus Third"; Liberty Hyde Bailey, Zoe Esther Bailey, et al.; 1976