Crape Jasmine (Pinwheel Flower)
Tabernaemontana divaricata
📖 About this plant
Crape Jasmine (Tabernaemontana divaricata), also known as Pinwheel Flower, Tagar, or Nandiar Vattai, is a beautiful evergreen shrub native to India and Southeast Asia, prized for its profuse, fragrant white flowers that bloom year-round in tropical climates. The plant gets its common name “Pinwheel Flower” from the distinctive shape of the single-form flowers — five spreading, wavy-edged petals arranged like a pinwheel. The double-flowered form (“Flore Pleno”) looks more like a small gardenia or rose. The flowers have a sweet gardenia-like fragrance, especially intense at night, attracting moths and other pollinators. In Indian gardens, Crape Jasmine is one of the most commonly planted ornamental shrubs — used for hedges, foundation plantings, and as a specimen plant. The plant has significant cultural and medicinal importance in India. In Ayurveda, the roots are used to treat eye diseases, the leaves for wounds and skin conditions, and the flowers for religious ceremonies. The plant is also used in traditional Indian systems of medicine for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. The shrub is virtually maintenance-free once established — drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and continuously blooming. It is perfect for low-maintenance landscapes, urban gardens, and as a hedge or screen plant.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to partial shade
2-3 times per week
Moderate (50-80%)
20-32°C
Well-draining loamy soil; pH 6.0-7.5. Tolerates a range of soils.
Apply balanced fertilizer or compost every 6-8 weeks during growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- India and Southeast Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 1.5-3 m (5-10 ft) as a shrub; can be pruned smaller
- 📐 Spread
- 1-2 m (3-6 ft)
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Year-round in tropics; peak spring to autumn
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Pure white, single (pinwheel) or double ("Flore Pleno") forms
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark glossy green, deeply veined, oval leaves 8-15 cm long
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 10-20 years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate — 30-60 cm per year
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — all parts contain indole alkaloids; keep away from children and pets. The plant has been used medicinally in controlled doses.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings (semi-hardwood, 10-15 cm, root in 4-6 weeks), seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — all parts contain indole alkaloids; keep away from children and pets. The plant has been used medicinally in controlled doses.
Common issues
- Aphids on new growth, mealybugs, scale insects, yellowing leaves from poor drainage, leaf spot in humid weather, sooty mold from aphid honeydew, occasional caterpillar damage
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun to partial shade — Crape Jasmine tolerates a wide range of light conditions. Water regularly during the growing season; the plant is moderately drought-tolerant once established. Prune in early spring to control size and shape — it tolerates hard pruning and can be shaped into hedges or topiary. Remove faded flowers to encourage reblooming. Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture. The plant is perfect for containers — use a 12-14 inch pot with well-draining potting mix. Crape Jasmine makes an excellent hedge when planted 60-90 cm apart. The flowers are highly fragrant — plant near windows, patios, or outdoor seating areas to enjoy the scent, especially in the evening. In cold regions, grow in containers and bring indoors before frost. The plant is virtually pest-free outdoors but watch for aphids and mealybugs indoors. Feed with balanced fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the growing season.
