How to Grow Night-blooming Jasmine (Telosma cordata) and Its Toxicity: Can It Repel Mosquitoes, Be Kept in the Bedroom, or Be Eaten?

Night-blooming jasmine, also known as night fragrant flower, night orchid fragrance, night clove, and thousand-mile fragrance, is a twining vine in the family Apocynaceae (subfamily Asclepiadoideae). Its flowering period is from May to August, and it rarely sets fruit. The flowers are cylindrical, yellow-green in color, and fragrant, with the scent becoming even stronger at night. So, what is the method for growing night-blooming jasmine? Is it toxic? Can it repel mosquitoes or be kept in the bedroom? Can it be eaten?

1. What is the method for growing night-blooming jasmine?

1. Propagation: Night-blooming jasmine can be propagated by cuttings, layering, division, and seed sowing. The most commonly used method is cuttings, which can be done at any time except winter. For cutting propagation, choose healthy branches free of pests and diseases, with 2 to 3 buds on each branch; then remove the lower leaves, treat the cut end with a rooting powder or similar agent, and insert it about 3 cm deep into the substrate; maintain the temperature at around 20°C to 24°C. After inserting, water thoroughly, cover with plastic film, and place in a shaded spot or scatter straw on the film. Ventilate daily and mist frequently; once the cuttings have rooted, they can be transplanted into pots at the appropriate time.

2. Cultivation: Night-blooming jasmine prefers loose, well-drained, organic-rich, slightly acidic soil. It can be prepared with peat soil or leaf mold + coarse river mud + farmyard manure. The bottom of the pot can be filled with granular crushed brick pieces to aid drainage. Night-blooming jasmine requires a sunny, well-ventilated environment and should be protected from harsh sun exposure. It is a heavy feeder, so fertilize little and often, applying liquid fertilizer once every 10 to 15 days. Night-blooming jasmine has high water needs; water more in summer, up to once a day if necessary, and in winter just keep the soil moist. Be sure to avoid waterlogging. Night-blooming jasmine is a twining vine and needs a trellis. Once the plant has climbed onto the trellis, pinch the tips promptly to encourage more branching.

3. Care: After the flowers fade, promptly cut off the spent flower stalks, remove dead and dry branches and overly dense branches, and shorten leggy branches. Repot regularly, preferably in early April. When repotting, remove some of the old soil and old roots, replace with fresh soil, and prune the branches. Pay attention to pest and disease control.

2. How should night-blooming jasmine be cared for in winter?

Night-blooming jasmine is not cold-tolerant. After leaf drop in winter, growth stops, and in severe cases the entire plant may die. Therefore, special attention is needed. If the outdoor temperature is too low, move it to a balcony or a bright spot during the day, and move it indoors at night. Use an air conditioner or heater to control the temperature. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged; it should not be too wet, otherwise it is prone to cold damage. Fertilizing can be paused.

3. Is night-blooming jasmine toxic? Can it be kept in the bedroom?

Night-blooming jasmine is toxic. Its fragrance contains a harmful substance and it can release large amounts of waste gas at night, causing dizziness, shortness of breath, coughing, and insomnia. It is especially suffocating and uncomfortable for people with high blood pressure and heart disease. When children breathe it in, it can affect their nervous system. Therefore, it is not recommended to place it in the bedroom, but it can be placed on a balcony or outdoors.

4. Can night-blooming jasmine repel mosquitoes? Can it be eaten?

The fragrance of night-blooming jasmine is toxic, and mosquitoes dislike it, so it can be used to drive away mosquitoes. Although the fragrance is toxic, its leaves, flowers, and fruits can be used medicinally, having the effects of clearing the liver, improving eyesight, removing eye opacities, and drawing out toxins and promoting tissue regeneration. The fresh flowers and flower buds are a semi-wild vegetable and can be eaten. They can be served cold dressed, fried with eggs, or used in soups. Dishes made from them include cold-dressed night-blooming jasmine, night-blooming jasmine fried with eggs, night-blooming jasmine egg soup, night-blooming jasmine lean pork soup, and night-blooming jasmine crucian carp soup.