Its leaves are glossy, flowers come in small, white clusters and its fragrance is citrus-like. This is what gives the Kamini – a popular plant in the twin townships – its name Orange Jasmine. The Kamini plant is native to India and is grown as an ornamental tree or hedge. It is a large, multi-trunked shrub, but can grow to become a small tree of up to seven or eight metres in height. And of course, the tropical, evergreen plant has an aromatic citrus-like fragrance.
Besides India, the Kamini is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan and Australia. And while the plant is called Orange Jasmine in English, in India it is also known as Kunti, Madhu Kamini and Manokamini. Its botanical name is Murraya paniculata and it is closely related to the Citrus.
Kamini is used both in conventional medication as a pain reliever and for wood. The plant is used for landscaping and is appropriate for bigger hedges. The plant blossoms consistently and scatters sweet citrus-like fragrance.
Kamini mainly grows on the ground. It is generally utilised in gardens as a supporting plant, i.e. it lends support to other plants with weak stems. It is cultured as an ornamental tree or hedge because of its hardiness and wide range of soil tolerance. The plant flowers throughout the year and produces small, fragrant flower clusters that attract bees, while the fruits attract small frugivorous birds. These are birds that thrive on raw fruits.
The little white fragrant Kamini blossoms are honey bee magnets. When planted near apiaries (a place where bees are kept, especially a collection of hives or colonies of bees kept for their honey), these plants provide the honey bees with a natural breeze boundary and nectar from the blossoms gives the honey a normally tangy undertone.
The plant’s blossoms shoot consistently. Its leaves are glossy and glabrous (the leaf-skin is free from hair) and about four to eight inches long. Flowers are terminal, few bloomed, fragrant and thick. The fruits are plump, elliptical ovoid, shaded red to orange and grow nearly an inch long.
Kamini care
The Kamini grows well in alkaline, clayey, sandy, acidic and loamy soils. Well-drained soil is best for the plant. The soil should be good in moisture, not damp or soggy. Use 65 per cent garden soil with 5 per cent coco peat and 30 per cent organic compost like vermicompost, cow manure or leaf manure.
The plant prefers hot climate and direct sunlight. However it also grows well in partly-shaded sunlight.
The frequency of watering depends on the intensity of the sun and humidity. During summer the plant needs frequent watering.
Fertilisation
Fertilise the plant in March April, not long before new development appears. Fertilise once in two to three weeks during its blooming period. Cut off the tip of the vines in the subsequent year to advance branching. This will fill the fencing with thick growth. The thick cover of lustrous green leaves permits the bush to be pruned vigorously. The tendency of the bushes to grow on new wood makes it even more magnificent when they burst into blossom half a month after they are pruned.
The Kamini plant is vulnerable to soil nematodes, scales, sooty mold and white flies. Use systematic insecticide and pesticides for healthy plant growth.
Propagation
Kamini plants are artificially produced by softwood cuttings. The plant is also sexually reproduced through its seeds. The fruits are eaten by birds, which then pass the seeds out in their faeces.