Murraya (Orange Jasmine)
Murraya paniculata
📖 About this plant
Murraya paniculata, commonly called Orange Jasmine, Orange Jessamine, or Mock Orange, is a versatile evergreen shrub native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia, prized for its fragrant white flowers, glossy citrus-like foliage, and edible orange-red berries. The plant is a member of the citrus family (Rutaceae) — and this family resemblance is evident in the leaves, which look like citrus leaves and release a citrus aroma when crushed. The flowers are small, white, and intensely fragrant — resembling orange blossoms in both appearance and scent, hence the common name “Orange Jasmine”. The plant blooms intermittently throughout the year in tropical climates, with each bloom lasting 2-3 days but producing a powerful fragrance that fills the garden. After flowering, the plant produces small, oval, orange-red berries that are edible (though not particularly tasty). In Indian gardens, Murraya is one of the most popular hedging plants — it tolerates hard pruning, forms a dense hedge, and provides fragrance and colour year-round. The plant is also grown as a specimen shrub, foundation planting, or in containers. Beyond ornamental value, Murraya has significant medicinal uses in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine — the leaves are used to treat pain, the bark for fever, and the roots for digestive disorders. Modern research has confirmed analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. The plant is also a magnet for butterflies and bees when in flower.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to partial shade
2-3 times per week
Moderate (40-70%)
18-32°C
Well-draining loamy soil; tolerates poor soils. pH 6.0-7.5
Balanced NPK or compost every 6-8 weeks during growing season
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia
- 📏 Max height
- 2-7 m (typically 2-4 m in cultivation)
- 📐 Spread
- 1.5-3 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Year-round in tropics; peak spring to autumn
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Small white fragrant flowers resembling orange blossoms
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark green, glossy, pinnate leaves with citrus-like aroma when crushed
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 15-25 years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate — 30-60 cm per year
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — keep away from pets and children; safe when handled
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings (root in 4-6 weeks), seeds, air layering
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — keep away from pets and children; safe when handled
Common issues
- Aphids on new growth, scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites in dry conditions, leaf miner, sooty mold from aphid honeydew, leaf spot diseases in humid weather
- citrus psyllid can attack (vector for citrus greening)
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun to partial shade — Murraya tolerates a wide range of light conditions.
- Provide well-draining soil and water regularly during the growing season.
- The plant is perfect for hedging — space plants 60-90 cm apart and prune regularly to maintain shape and density.
- Murraya tolerates hard pruning and can be shaped into formal hedges, topiaries, or small standards (tree form).
- Feed with balanced fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the growing season.
- The plant is perfect for containers — use a 12-14 inch pot with well-draining potting mix.
- Place near windows, patios, or outdoor seating areas to enjoy the intense flower fragrance.
- Prune after each major bloom to encourage reblooming.
- The plant is evergreen and provides year-round foliage colour.
- Watch for citrus psyllid — if detected, treat promptly as it can transmit citrus greening disease.
- Murraya is also used as a rootstock for citrus in some regions due to its disease resistance.