Jasminum grandiflorum

Very common in southern Italy, Jasminum grandiflorum was grown mainly in Calabria and Sicily, where until 50 years ago it was used for perfume production. Today there are small companies that are committed to preserving these crops, and produce liqueurs and food products flavored with jasmine. Known in Italy as "Gelsomino siciliano" , in Germany it is known as "Jasmine Tea", as the flowers are used in the production of jasmine green tea served in Asian restaurants.

This large evergreen plant can be used both as a climber and as a shrub. It adapts well to growing in pots and in the open ground where the climate allows it. In the large cities of northern Italy it can be grown without too many worries, even surviving in the city center of Bolzano.

The flowers, about 3-4 cm, are pure white with pinkish hues on the outside, produced in abundance from mid-summer to spring and, of course, very fragrant. The native range of J. grandiflorum is very vast and includes eastern Asia and southern Africa.