Mogra Flower: How to grow Jasminum Sambac at Home?

Mogra flower is a very popular flower in the world known for its strong sweet fragrance. These pure white spin-wheel-shaped waxy flowers are so fragrant that they are used to prepare certain perfumes. They are widely grown as ornamental house plants in Asian households, especially in India.

Mogra flowers are called Arabian Jasmine in English. Their scientific name is Jasminum Sambac.

Jasminum Sambac flowers are around 1 inch in diameter (2.5 cm). They grow in clusters of 3-11 flowers.

This plant is the national plant of the Philippines.

It is considered sacred in India as it is believed to bring divine hope, optimism & good luck. It is used for religious rituals in the Indian subcontinent.

Often people ask “Is Jasmine and Mogra same?” Mogra is actually a flowering plant belonging to the plant genus called Jasminum. There are about 200 varieties of Jasmine plants that bear similar kinds of flowers. However, mogra flowers are distinguished by their strong sweet fragrance. It belongs to the plant family “Oleaceae”.

It is the double-flowering variety of Jasmine plants that are called Mogra or Motiya in India. Mogra flower plants are considered auspicious and are normally planted outdoors in a sunny area.

Mogra flower is known by numerous names across the globe- Mohle flower, White-flowered Indian Jasmine, Zambac, Sampa Gita, Rose Mogra plant, Mogro, Mogare, Moghra, Kabok Lei.

Arabian Jasmine is a wild shrub native to the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia (tropical regions). It is grown widely for its ornamental flowers, especially in India & Bhutan. It is classified as a weed and grows vigorously under suitable climatic conditions. It is found to be growing up to elevations of about 600 meters.

In India, one can easily purchase Mogra flowers online. You can also buy these plants from a local nursery.

Arabian Jasmine can be grown as a vine or sprawling shrub.

Contents

Lifespan of Jasminum Sambac

Arabian Jasmine is a perennial evergreen shrub producing flowers around the year.

Sunlight Requirement

They like sunny spots. They thrive well in full sun. Ideally, they should be provided with 3-6 hours of sunlight per day. They do well in natural bright light.

They can also be grown in partial shade.

They can tolerate occasional light frost. Hence the plant should be kept indoors in colder regions in the winter season.

They are best suited for growing in USDA zones 9 to 11.

They thrive well in temperatures between 16 degrees to 35 degrees Celcius.

Soil Requirement & Pot Selection

Jasminum Sambac needs well-drained soil. The soil should, however, be able to retain some moisture. The soil should be rich in organic content.

Mix 50% compost with 10% cocopeat, 15% sand & 25% garden soil to prepare the soil for Arabian Jasmine.

As I always recommend, use clay pots to plant your shrub. Avoid plastic pots as they do not allow evaporation of water or air circulation suffocating the roots.

Ensure your pot has a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot.

Height of Arabian Jasmine Plant

Mogra plants can grow from 3ft to 10ft tall (about 3 meters).

Propagation of Mogra Flower Plant

Mogra flowers are pollinated by insects. These plants can be propagated by various methods:

12cm – 20cm long cuttings from terminal shoots.
Semi-ripe cuttings 8 cm long, in the summer season.
Layering method at the start of winter or autumn on at least 1-year-old shoots.
From the seeds produced by the plant. Seeds when ripe, are to be sown in the soil directly in a partially shaded spot.

Cuttings should form the roots in 3-6 weeks’ time.

Pruning & Sorting of Jasminum Sambac

The plant should be pruned on a need basis to maintain its shape and size of the plant.

Sorting of plants is very important to stimulate new branch growth.

Once the flowers have bloomed and fallen, prune the part of the plant from where the flowers appeared (between the leaves and the flower pod). Make sure you do not deep prune the plant.

Can Mogra Flowers be grown in pots or containers?

Yes, mogra flowers can be easily grown in pots or containers provided they are fertilized from time to time to maintain the nutrients in the soil.

Flowering Season

They flower all around the year in warm climates. However, the main blooming season is June to August in India.

In colder regions, they bloom in the summer season.

In the rainy season, the flowers kind of become drenched and cannot be used. But you should still pluck the flowers to stimulate the growth of flowers.

It is a low-maintenance plant.

The scent of flowers is so strong that only one Mogra plant can make your entire home fragrant.

Watering Mogra Flower Plant

They need to be watered in abundance in the summer season (in tropical countries). However, the frequency of watering should be reduced in winters.

Do not spray water on the leaves or the flowers as water will damage the flowers.

Do not overwater the plant. At the same time, do not let the soil dry out.

Fertilizer for Mogra Flower

You can apply organic fertilizers like vermicompost, cow dung compost, etc. once a month during the growing season.

You need to feed your Mogra plant continuously.

You can also apply Epsom salt. Dissolve 1 teaspoon in 2 liters of water and apply this to the soil. This will stimulate vigorous flower growth.

Before the blooming, it is recommended to add phosphorus-rich fertilizers as phosphorous is essential for flower growth.

You can also use banana peels as fertilizers.

Please note that over-application of fertilizers will also burn the plan. Hence apply a balanced quantity of fertilizer of your choice.

Water the plant after applying the fertilizer.

So not apply fertilizers in winters in colder regions when the plan will shed its leaves.

Diseases & Pests

Arabian Jasmine is normally a pest-resistant plant. However, watch out for mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, leaf spots, & root rot.

You can apply organic pesticides like Neem oil, Eucalyptus Oil or Citrus Oil to get rid of these bugs.

Remove dead branches and flowers to avoid the growth of fungus or the spread of infection.

Uses of Mogra Flower

Used to add flavor to Jasmine Tea in China
Used for making necklaces (leis) e.g. in Hawaii.
Mogra flowers are used for decoration.
Used for extracting essential oil from Arabian Jasmine flowers.
Used as a condiment.
It has medicinal use in some places around the world. It is used as a medicinal shrub in Ayurveda, a way of natural medicine in India.
Used to make desserts in Thailand.

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