Image – Flickr/Bri Weldon
There is no doubt that jasmine and the lady of the night are plants that can be very beautiful, but it must be said that are very different and therefore should not be used for the same. In addition, it is also necessary to keep in mind the weather, because depending on what it is, it will be necessary to provide them with certain care or others.
For it, If you’re wondering whether to plant a nightshade or a jasmine in your patio or in the ground, then I’m going to talk about both plants. so that you choose one of them yourself depending on your tastes and preferences, but also on the conditions of the place where you want to put it.
Contents
Characteristics of the Lady of the Night and Jasmine
We will first comment on the physical characteristics of each plant, since this is the “visible part” of them and what, therefore, we look at before deciding. So let’s see:
night lady
Image – Wikimedia/Cary Bass
This is a shrub up to 5 meters high, but it can be kept much lower if desired, as it tolerates pruning very well. Its leaves are semi-deciduous, which means that when the time comes, only a few fall off, not all of them. It is at this time that the temperatures begin to drop, in autumn-winter.
Its leaves are generally lanceolate, that is to say lance-shaped, and measure between 10 centimeters long and 2-3 centimeters wide. In addition, they have a short petiole that connects them to the branches, which are greenish. The flowers are tubular, white and grouped in clusters that grow between the branches.. These are very fragrant and open a little at night. Its flowering period is spring.
Jasmine
Image – Wikimedia/Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata
Jasmine is a genus of plants which, depending on the species, it can be climber or rather bush. Likewise, it can be deciduous or semi-deciduous, and even if the weather is warm enough, it can remain evergreen. The leaves are trifoliate or odd-pinnate, that is, they are composed of several leaflets or pinnae, which are green or dark green.
Its flowers are usually white, but can be yellow (like those of winter jasmine, whose scientific name is Jasminum mesnyi), or roses (like those of Jasminum x stephanense). These grow in spring or summer, although depending on the variety, they may do so in winter.
As there are many different types – 200, to be exact, not including hybrids – their height also varies. So, for example, we have these:
- Jasminum fruticans: 2 meters high.
- Jasminum mesnyi: 3 meters high.
- Jasmine officinale: 6 meters high.
- Jasminum polyanthum: 7 meters high maximum.
- jasmine sambac: 4 meters high.
What are everyone’s needs?
We have talked about the physical characteristics, but now we have to talk about the needs, because only if we take them into account can we have a beautiful lady of the night or a beautiful jasmine from day one:
Lady of the Night Basic Kits
The lady of the night is a bush that is generally recommended to be placed in full sun from the start; not in vain, he needs it to grow properly, and also to be able to flourish. Now well, can also be shaded, as long as there was plenty of light in that area; i.e. it wouldn’t be a good idea to have it in a dark place.
On another side, It can be kept in a pot with a hole in its base, but it must be placed in a pot with universal growing medium. that the water flows well, because it fears floods. And speaking of excess water, to avoid it, it must be watered several times a week in summer, and less the rest of the year. It is also necessary to take advantage of the good weather to fertilize it, for example with an organic fertilizer such as guano.
As soon as the cold comes It will have to be brought indoors if there are frosts down to -3.5 ºC.
Jasmine Basic Needs
Image – Wikimedia/Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Jasmine is a plant which, unlike the lady of the night, it must be yes or yes in a sunny place. That is, you can not put it in the shade, because even if it is very bright, its flowering will be rare. But otherwise, you can have it in a pot or in the garden, provided it grows in quality soil, rich in organic matter.
If we talk about irrigation, it will be moderate, being more frequent in summer (and even more so during heat waves) than in winter. It is not resistant to drought: its leaves “bend” immediately and the flowers, if there are any, may fall prematurely. For this reason, it is important to check the humidity of the soil from time to time, for example by inserting a wooden stick at the bottom, because although you can see the surface layer dry, it is possible that the lower ones are still wet, and if we water more than enough, the plant will eventually drown.
Finally, it is a plant that she is generally more cautious than the lady of the night. In fact, most species do not tolerate frost, except these:
- Jasminum mesnyi: down to -10ºC.
- Jasmine officinale. down to -7°C.
- Jasminum polyanthum: down to -5ºC.
- jasmine sambac: down to -7ºC.
Anyway, from my own experience, I’ll tell you that plants suffer more when temperatures remain low for several days in a row, than from a single frost. In other words, if the thermometer remains between 5 and 10°C (for example), the jasmine will pass less well than if it remains between 10 and 20°C and at some point it drops to -3° vs.
What are dama de noche and jasmine used for?
Finally, let’s see how the two plants can be used to decorate. And for this, the first thing we must bear in mind is that the lady of the night is a bush that, yes, has long stems, but it is not a climbing plant; jasmine, on the other hand, most varieties that are sold -if not all- climb. Therefore, their uses are a bit different:
- night lady:
- low hedge, on the edge for example;
- free-growing plant in different areas of the garden or next to other shrubs;
- potted plant, as a small tree or even as a bonsai.
- Jasmine:
- to cover fences, gratings, small trellises or pergolas;
- as a groundcover or ground cover in non-traffic areas of the garden;
- potted plant or bonsai.
So which is the best?
Image – Wikimedia/CT Johansson
Personally, I like jasmine more, because it gives a lot more play and its flowers also open, so they are more visual, more beautiful. Both plants produce aromatic blooms and tolerate pruning very well, but lady of the night will not be used to cover a trellis for example.although it is splendid in hedges.
It depends on everyone. Anyway, let me tell you, if you’re worried that jasmine won’t tolerate your climate, false jasmine is about the same but is much more frost hardy. Click on the link if you want to know more.
And which do you prefer: the evening lady or the jasmine?