Nyctanthes arbor-tristis - 0.5 kg Seeds

Parijat or Night-flowering Jasmine, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, is a large shrub or small tree treasured for its small white flowers with bright orange-red tubes that open at dusk, pour out a sweet fragrance through the night and carpet the ground by morning. Native to the Indian subcontinent and grown across the country in gardens and temple grounds, it has deep cultural and religious significance. The flowers are used in worship, garlands and perfumery and their orange corolla-tubes yield a traditional dye, while the bitter leaves are an important Ayurvedic remedy.

• Family: Oleaceae
• Native region: Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia
• Mature height: 4–10 m
• Growth rate: Moderate

Collect the flat brown seeds from the dry capsules and sow them fresh for best results. Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, then sow them about 1–2 cm deep in a well-drained nursery mix kept moist and lightly shaded. Germination is somewhat slow and uneven, generally taking three to four weeks; keep the medium evenly moist, then transplant the seedlings into bags and grow them on before planting out with the monsoon.