ultivated in many places, especially across much of South and Southeast Asia.

It is naturalised in
many scattered locales: Mauritius, Madagascar, the Maldives, Christmas Island, Chiapas, Central
America, southern Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser
Antilles.[6][7][8]
Jasminum sambac is a small shrub or vine growing up to 0.5 to 3 m (1.6 to 9.8 ft) in height. It is
widely cultivated for its attractive and sweetly fragrant flowers. The flowers may be used as a
fragrant ingredient in perfumes and jasmine tea. In India and Pakistan it is very popular and is known
as Mogra. It is the national flower of the Philippines, where it is known as sampaguita,[9] as well as
being one of the three national flowers of Indonesia, where it is known as melati putih.
h common name of "Arabian jasmine", Jasminum sambac is not originally native to Arabia.
The habits of Jasminum sambac support a native habitat of humid tropical climates and not the arid
climates of the Middle East. Early Chinese records of the plant points to the origin of Jasminum
sambac as eastern South Asia and Southeast Asia. Jasminum sambac (and nine other species of
the genus) were spread into Arabia and Persia by man, where they were cultivated in gardens. From
there, they were introduced to Europe where they were grown as ornamentals and were known
under the common name "sambac" in the 18th century.[16][17]
The Medieval Arabic term "zanbaq" denoted jasmine flower-oil from the flowers of any species of
jasmine. This word entered late medieval Latin as "sambacus" and "zambacca" with the same
meaning as the Arabic, and then in post-medieval Latin plant taxonomy the word was adopted as a
label for the J. sambac species.[18] The J. sambac species is a good source for jasmine flower-oil in
terms of the quality of the fragrance and it continues to be cultivated for this purpose for the perfume
industry today. The Jasminum officinale species is also cultivated for the same purpose, and
probably to a g

enus
Jasminum

The species Jasminum sambac is native to southern Asia, in India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Sampaguita is serving as the National Flower of for two countries - Philippines and Indonesia.. The
beautiful ornamental Sampaguita blooms cover the glossy green leafed bushed type ever bloomer.
The Sampaguita is also well known in Asia for its use in teas and religious offerings, symbolizing
divine hope.

Sampaguita grow on a woody vine or semi-climbing shrub, which reaches a height of 1,2 meters.
The leaves are ovate or rounded in shape and 6 to 12 cm long. The leaves and Sampaguita flowers
grow on short stalks. The Sampaguita flowers bloom either singly or as bundles of blossoms at
the top of the branches. Blooming all through the year, Sampaguita are pure white, small, dainty,
star-shaped blossoms. The flowers open at night and wilt in less than a day. The Sampaguita flower
has about 8-10 calyx teeth that are very slender, and 5 to 8 mm long. The Sampaguita's corolla tube
is slender and 1 to 1.5 cm long, the limb is usually double and 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter. The 2
stamens on the Sampaguita are included with a 2-celled ovary.

Sampaguita's distinct sweet, heady fragrance is its unique feature. The essential oil from the flowers
is similar to jasmin (Jasminum grandiflores). Sampaguita flowers do not bear seeds, therefore the
plant is cultivated by cuttings. Sampaguita was imported into the Philippines in the 17th century from
Himalayan areas. The Sampaguita is a native part of the Philippine landscape for centuries. The
plant is originally from India and is grown throughout India today. About eight cultivars are generally
listed for Sampaguita.Some varieties of Sampaguitas can grow as large as small roses in India.
Varieties of Sampaguita
There are three varieties of Sampaguita, commonly referred to as Single Petal, Double and Double-
Double. The double layered Sampaguita are called 'kampupot,' which are less fragrant. The three
major varieties: 'Maid of Orleans', 'Belle of India' and 'Grand Duke' - differ from each other by the
shape of leaves and flowers structure. The fourth popular variety Mysore Mulli, a variation of the
'Belle of India'.

 Maid of Orleans: Single with five rounded petals

 Belle of India:Semi-double or single (single and double flowers on the same plant) with
elongated petals
 Grand Duke of Tuscany: clusters of flowers (sometimes single flower). Only the central
flower is truly double-rossete. Side flowers are semi-double, and like miniature roses

Facts About Sampaguita

 Sampaguita is considered a symbol of fidelity, purity, devotion, strength and
dedication.
 In the Philippines, the Sampaguita is called by various names: sambac, sampagung,
campopot, lumabi, kulatai, pongso, malur and manul.
 The name Sampaguita is a Spanish term that comes from the Philippino words
"sumpa kita," which mean 'I promise you.'
 The Chinese emperor of the Sung dynasty had Sampaguita growing in his palace grounds to
enjoy its heavenly fragrance.
 Even the kings of Afghanistan, Nepal and Persia had Jasmine planted, in the 1400s.
 Since ancient times, Jasmine has been cultivated for its ess