VLoveof Nature

Water jasmine

Wrightia religiosa

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Water jasmine · Wrightia religiosa

Small drooping white flowers with a soft scent, often shaped as bonsai.

Care and placement

Likes full sun to bright light, warmth above 18 °C, watering as soon as the surface starts to dry and never fully drying out; fairly hungry; prune after flowering; often grown as bonsai.

Draft mature dimensions

Maximum height (cm): 200 cm · Maximum spread (cm): 150 cm

Things to consider

The milky sap from cuts may mildly irritate skin; wear gloves when pruning, wash hands afterwards, do not eat it or use it as medicine, and keep children and pets from chewing it. There is no official toxicity rating for this plant.

Unknown evidence does not mean safe. Decorative plants are not automatically edible.

Information is compiled from multiple reputable sources for reference. If you spot an error, please contact us so we can check and update it.

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How to grow and care for it

  1. Planting and pot

    Use a draining mix (bonsai mix or soil with sand or perlite); repot every 2–3 years in spring before strong growth.

  2. Light

    Likes full sun and warmth (above 18 °C, protect below about 7 °C); morning to midday sun is best, harsh sun may scorch in some conditions; good sun gives smaller leaves.

  3. Watering

    Water thoroughly as soon as the surface starts to dry; never let it dry out fully but avoid waterlogging. Yellow leaves and mushy stems mean overwatering; drooping leaves and crisp edges mean underwatering.

  4. Feeding

    A fairly hungry plant: balanced 10-10-10 every 2–4 weeks in spring and summer (or solid organic feed every 4 weeks); too much makes it leggy with fewer flowers.

  5. Pruning

    Prune larger branches in spring before strong growth (or right after flowering); as it is vigorous trim new shoots back to one leaf pair after several pairs develop; flowers appear after the third pair. Wear gloves because of the sap.

  6. Propagation

    Semi-hardwood cuttings 10–15 cm in late spring to early summer, lower leaves removed, dipped in rooting hormone into draining mix in bright indirect light; nights above about 16 °C work best. Air layering and seed also work.

  7. Pests and common problems

    Yellow leaves and mushy stems from overwatering; drooping from underwatering. Aphids, scale and spider mites may appear in dry conditions; inspect regularly.

  8. For more flowers

    For many scented white flowers: good sun, warmth, steady feeding without too much nitrogen, timely pruning and trimming new shoots back to a leaf pair. Small drooping white flowers with a soft scent.