Winter Jasmine
Jasminum nudiflorum
Family: Oleaceae · Also called Yíng Chūn Huā, Naked Jasmine
Green & Fresh · Winter bloomer
Winter jasmine is a lifeline of color in the dead of winter, bright yellow, star-shaped flowers studding bare green stems from December through March, often blooming through snow and frost. It's not showy from a distance, but up close, each six-petaled star is a small miracle of optimism against the winter grey.
hope, grace, elegance
In the Victorian language of flowers, winter jasmine means “Grace and elegance”. Known in Chinese as 'yíng chūn huā' (flower that welcomes spring), it's one of the earliest flowers to bloom in Chinese gardens and symbolizes the turning of winter. It was introduced to Europe in 1844 by Robert Fortune. Unlike summer jasmine, it has no scent, the resemblance is in flower shape only.
Did You Know?
Winter jasmine has an unusual growth habit, its arching green stems root wherever they touch the ground, allowing it to slowly colonize banks and walls. Despite being called jasmine and belonging to the same genus as fragrant summer jasmine, it evolved to be pollinated by early-emerging bees rather than night-flying moths, which is why it lost its scent.
Ravines, thickets, and rocky slopes in northern and western China
Winter Jasmine is native to China. It naturally grows in ravines, thickets, and rocky slopes in northern and western china.
Scent Profile
“Surprisingly unscented for a jasmine, despite its name and family connection, winter jasmine has almost no fragrance. Its value is entirely in providing bright yellow blooms during the darkest months.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameJasminum nudiflorum
- FamilyOleaceae
- Native ToChina
- Bloom SeasonWinter
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Known in Chinese as 'yíng chūn huā' (flower that welcomes spring), it's one of the earliest flowers to bloom in Chinese gardens and symbolizes the turning of winter. It was introduced to Europe in 1844 by Robert Fortune. Unlike summer jasmine, it has no scent, the resemblance is in flower shape only.