Growing Water Jasmine Plants, Sui Mui (Wrightia Religiosa Benth) In My Garden

From young, I have always have a special liking for this sweet smelling flowering plant. This plant is the Water Jasmine plant, called Sui Mui in Cantonese. Its scientific name is Wrightia Religiosa Benth.

Water Jasmine or sometimes known as Wild Water Plum is a shrub or a hedge plant. It can be grown in the ground or potted. It can be grown as a hedge plant or as an ornamental plant. Water Jasmine is also grown and shaped as beautiful bonsai plants.

Water Jasmine is an evergreen, tropical plant. It is easy to grow and it grows fast. It likes the sun and plenty of water. It needs good drainage soil and needs regular fertilizing to bring about healthy growth and abundant bloom.

Water Jasmine is a tough, hardy plant and needs very little care if left to grow freely. Since it is a fast growing plant, it needs to be trimmed or pruned to shape it.

It has skinny branches and its leaves are thin and light green. If the soil is water logged or too dry, its leaves will turn yellow and drop off.

Water Jasmine has small white flowers and the flowers are in clusters.

The flowers face downwards. The flowers give out a sweet fragrant when in full bloom. The scent is specially strong in the evening and night.

There are many species of Wrightia Religiosa Benth. In my garden, I grow 3 pots of Water Jasmine or Sui Mui. I have 1 pot of single layered petal flowers and 2 pots of multiple layered petal flowers. The above picture is of the multiple layered petal flowers.

The above picture is of the single layered petal flowers.

When the plants are in full bloom, the flowers attract many butterflies.

Water Jasmine can be propagated by stem cuttings, suckers or by seeds. I grew my first plant from stem cuttings given by my church member. Now whenever I prune my plants, I will propagate a few plants to bless others.

When the flowers have bloomed, it will dry up and fall to the ground (like the above picture).

After the flowers have dried up, sometimes seed pods will form. The seed pods are green, and are in pairs. They are thin and long (circled in red).

As the seed pods matured, it will grow longer.

When the seed pods are totally dried up, it will burst open. The seeds will be carried by wind or drop on the ground.

The roots of Water Jasmine is claimed to have medicinal uses. It is used as a traditional treatment for skin diseases and stomach ache.

Awake, north wind, and come, south wind!

Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad.

Let my lover come into His garden and taste its choice fruits.

(Song of Songs 4:16, New International Version-NIV)