Jasminum humile Revolutum - Italian Jasmine

Jasminum humile Revolutum is a variety of Jasmine that is moderately hardy with semi-evergreen foliage, depending on the severity of the winter. In early summer, it produces beautiful flowers of a very bright yellow, which stands out well against the bright green foliage. A bush with a tendency to climb, it can be planted either as a standalone plant or as a hedge, where it will have a trailing habit, or against a wall where it can climb up to 2 or 3 metres (7 or 10 feet) in height. Adapting to most soils, especially limestone soils, as long as they are well-drained, it is a plant that deserves to be better known.

Jasminum humile is a plant from the Oleaceae family, which includes many ornamental genera, some very common, such as Privets, Forsythias, Lilacs, or Ash trees, and others less common, such as Abeliophyllum, Chionanthus, or Osmanthus. It is also the family of the Olive tree, Olea in Latin, which gave it its name. Despite its common name of Italian Jasmine, this bush is native to Afghanistan, the Himalayas, southwestern China, and Myanmar. Jasminum humile (synonym Jasminum reevesii) was described as a species by the famous botanist Carl von Linnaeus in 1753.

The 'Revolutum' variety stands out from the species by its larger flowers, forming small trumpets that can reach 3cm (1in) in diameter. They appear in clusters of 6 to 12 flowers in June (or May depending on the climate), lasting until July, with some possible reblooming later. literature credits them with a fragrance, but it must be very subtle or perhaps depend on the encountered clones. So, focus more on the visual aspect of its beautiful flowers, a very bright yellow, which stand out well against the beautiful bright green foliage.

This bush has a climbing habit, it can stand upright on its own, with the ends of the branches hanging down due to their flexibility. If you plant it at the base of a wall, this support will allow the branches to climb up to 2.5 or 3 metres (8 or 10 feet) in height, with a width of 2 metres (7 feet). It tolerates pruning very well (to be done just after flowering), so it is easy to keep it at a height of 2 metres (7 feet) if you plant it against a property boundary fence.

Being moderately hardy, this Jasmine can withstand temperatures around -12°C (10.4°F), or even -15°C (5°F), as long as it is planted in well-drained soil, as excess water can enhance the freezing effect. A dry stone wall will therefore provide both mechanical support and an additional temperature boost. Its main advantage is its adaptability to all types of soil, whether acidic, neutral, or alkaline, it thrives in any of them! It will appreciate some watering in summer, but once well-established, it proves to be very resistant. In mild climates, it will retain its foliage in winter, while in other areas, colder temperatures will cause it to drop. That is why, although it tolerates partial shade, it is preferable to plant it in full sun.

Being sufficiently hardy in much of Europe, this less common Jasmine deserves to be more widely planted as it is a truly easy-to-grow bush. To conceal an unsightly wall, it pairs well with a Lonicera tatarica, the Tartarian Honeysuckle with its white-pink flowers and attractive decorative fruits. It will also fit well in a mixed hedge with its wild appearance, alongside Rosa chinensis Mutabilis, a rose with a long reblooming period and changing colours adapted to the same climatic conditions. Rhamnus alaternus can also be a good companion to form a rustic hedge even in dry climates. For a surprising effect, let a Clematis with purple flowers climb in this Jasmine, such as Shin-Shigyoku with its beautiful double flowers, which will create a strong contrast with the vibrant yellow of the 'Revolutum' Jasmine.