Common Name: Water Jasmine

Scientific Name: Wrightia religiosa

Characteristics

1. Bark – light tan or grey / slightly textured
2. Branches – flexible or brittle with age
3. Leaves – opposite / ovate / simple / medium green
4. Flowers – small / white / pendant – hangs down / very fragrant 
5. Fruit – pod – less common in cooler climates

Growing Conditions 

1. Air – good air circulation / humid environment
2. Sun – morning to midday sun is best / good sun promotes smaller leaves
3. Water – moist not wet - dry down not dry out / morning to midday is best / new leaves increase transpiration 

Maintenance

1. Roots – Repotting is best when night temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees. Well-draining soil. Healthy trees can be heavily pruned. Depending on age water jasmine may need repotting every one to three years. Protect from sun for 2 weeks after heavy root pruning. 
2. Trunk – Properly clean and protect large cuts from moisture, heals very well with care. Watch for wire scarring. Healthy trees can be heavily reduced. Watch for water shoots/sprouts to prevent unnecessary wounds.
3. Branches – Branches become more brittle and difficult to bend with age. Use wire to set initial primary and/or secondary branch structure where applicable. Watch for wire scarring. The clip-n-grow technique is well utilized. Healthy trees can be heavily pruned. Properly clean and protect large cuts from moisture, heals very well with care. Protect from sun for 2 weeks after heavy branch pruning. Watch for water shoots/sprouts to prevent unnecessary wounds.
4. Leaves / Flowers – Leaf size can be controlled by root maturation and proper use of the clip-n-grow technique. Flowers occur at the end of new growth. Defoliation is not necessary to control leaf size but can be utilized on mature healthy specimen before or after the flowering cycle. Partial defoliation during the growing season can increase airflow, visual design, and reduce predatory insects and fungus. Flowers can be controlled/encouraged by consistent nutrition and timed leaf removal. 90 days prior to desired bloom ensure that the water jasmine is receiving proper nutrition, 30 days from desired bloom completely defoliate, at the end of those 30 days the water jasmine will be teaming with showy and fragrant flowers. Watch for insects and related fungus on new stem growth. 

Hardiness: tropical evergreen / zone 9 -11 / protect below 45 degrees

Propagation: Cuttings and air-layers of almost any size do well. Night temperatures must be consistently over 60 degrees for best results. Also grown from seed.

Potential Issues

1. Insects – aphids / scale
2. Fungus – sooty mold on leaves and branches caused by aphids / root fungus can occur because of poor soil or drainage

Additional varieties used in bonsai: Dwarf Water Jasmine – Wrightia coccinea

*NOTES – Outside Only. Native to Asia.