jasminium sambac

The jasmine flower originated in Persia, in what is now Iran. It spread across the Red Sea as early as 1000 B.C. and is now seen everywhere around the world, mostly in tropical Asian countries. 

Its meaning is different in every culture. In China, it means feminine kindness, grace, and delicacy. In Thailand, it means motherhood. In India, it is used religiously as a symbol of divine hope. In the Philippines, as their national flower, it means purity, simplicity, humility, and strength. They also used it as a love symbol and used to exchange jasmine necklaces instead of rings. In Victorian England, it meant amiability, cheerfulness, grace, and elegance that accompanied the trend of modesty during that time. In ancient Egypt, Cleopatra used it to seduce Anthony as a way of demonstrating love.

 The Jasmine flower releases its fragrance at night after the sun has set and especially when the moon is waxing towards fullness. Jasmine flower buds are more fragrant than the flowers.