Mogra

Back on popular demand! I had written about this flower back in 2018, but there was a lot to be written! So here I am with a brand new post on Jasminum Sambac – Mogra!

Arabian Jasmine is an evergreen shrub, that often reaches 5 ft in height in pots. The flowers are used in making perfumes and as a flavoring in tea. Arabian jasmine is native to India. This woody shrub features green oval shaped leaves. The most attractive aspect of this plant is its small, white, star-shaped flowers, which are fragrant and have a wonderfully sweet scent.

This everblooming Jasmine has bushy growth and does particularly well on windowsills. It is well known in Asia for its use in teas and religious observances. Also known as the “Arabian Tea Jasmine,” it is the National Flower of the Philippines, where it is known as ‘Sampaguita.’

There are numerous cultivars of Jasminum sambac which differ from each other by the shape of leaves and the structure of the corolla. The cultivars recognized include:

‘Maid of Orleans’ – possesses flowers with a single layer of five or more oval shaped petals. It is the variety most commonly referred to as sampaguita and pikake. It is also known as ‘Mograw’, ‘Motiya’, or ‘Bela’.
‘Belle of India’ – possesses flowers with a single or double layer of elongated petals.
‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ – possesses flowers with a doubled petal count. They resemble small white roses and are less fragrant than the other varieties. It is also known as ‘Rose jasmine’ and ‘Butt Mograw’. In the Philippines, it is known as kampupot.
‘Mysore Mallige’ – resembles the ‘Belle of India’ cultivar but has slightly shorter petals with distinct and immense fragrance.
‘Arabian Nights’ – possesses a double layer of petals but is smaller in size than the ‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ cultivar

Here are a few most frequently asked questions about this plant. Hope this answers all your doubts and queries. If you have any questions other than the following, let me know in the comment section below.

Mogra Phulala, Mogra Phulala Phule vechita baharu kaliyasi aala…
These beautiful words by Sant Dnyaneshwar, Music by Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar and melodious voice of Lata didi really paint a beautiful picture of this flowering plant in your mind.

This is a small clip of the mogra that we have in our garden Cover by
#NotesByNeha​ , Neha Gore.

Do let us know what you think about it in the comments section below and don’t forget to like and Subscribe to our channel!
Your gardener friend,
Reema.