7 Captivating Flowers That Look Like Jasmine

The delicate white petals and sweet, unforgettable scent of jasmine make it a favourite. But the world of flowers offers many other beautiful blossoms that share its charm. If you adore jasmine, you will be delighted to discover its lookalikes. 

This guide explores seven stunning flowers that resemble jasmine in appearance and fragrance. These alternatives are perfect for creating elegant bouquets and beautiful arrangements to brighten your home. They offer new textures, scents, and meanings to explore in floral design, giving you wonderful new options for any occasion.

1. Stephanotis (Madagascar Jasmine)

Stephanotis flowers are the picture of elegance. Each blossom is a perfect, five-pointed star made of pure white, waxy petals. They are similar in shape to jasmine but have a more substantial, almost porcelain-like quality. These flowers grow in lovely, dense clusters along a vine, which makes them visually striking when used by florists. In a bouquet, these clusters provide a wonderful texture and a concentrated burst of beauty.

The Scent: A Rich and Romantic Perfume

The fragrance of Stephanotis is truly captivating. It has a rich, sweet floral perfume that is powerful without being overpowering. Its scent is often described as the essence of a romantic wedding day. While it shares the sweetness of jasmine, the aroma of Stephanotis has a unique, clean richness that is highly sought after in high-end floral arrangements and bridal bouquets.

The Meaning: A Symbol of Marital Happiness

Stephanotis is deeply connected with love and commitment. It is famously known as the "bridal veil" flower and is a powerful symbol of marital happiness and a long, happy partnership. Gifting a bouquet with Stephanotis is a beautiful way to wish someone a joyful journey in their relationship, making it a thoughtful choice for anniversaries and engagement parties.

Perfect For: Elegant Wedding Bouquets

With its beautiful meaning and pristine appearance, Stephanotis is a classic choice for wedding floristry. Its sturdy, waxy flowers hold up well in Singapore's climate, making them a reliable and stunning feature in a bride's bouquet or a sophisticated table centrepiece. Their timeless elegance ensures they fit perfectly into both traditional and modern wedding themes.

2. Gardenia

Gardenias offer a look of pure luxury. Their blossoms are large and creamy-white, with velvety, layered petals that swirl outwards from the centre, almost like a rose. 

While their shape is fuller and more complex than the simple star of a jasmine flower, they share a similar waxy texture, pure white colour, and an overall sense of opulence. A single gardenia can be the stunning focal point of any arrangement.

The Scent: A Famously Bold and Creamy Fragrance

The scent of the Gardenia is iconic and unmistakable. It is a powerful, intoxicatingly sweet, and creamy floral fragrance that can fill an entire room with its perfume. For those who love the strong, sweet aroma of the most fragrant flowers, the gardenia is an exceptional choice. It is a bold statement of scent that is both romantic and incredibly memorable.

The Meaning: Purity, Trust, and Sweet Love

Gardenias carry a beautifully gentle and sincere meaning. They are symbols of purity, trust, and refinement. Gifting gardenias can represent the sweet, gentle love you have for someone, like a close friend or family member. They are also a sign of trust and hope, making them a lovely flower for expressing heartfelt and genuine emotions.

Perfect For: A Luxurious Centrepiece

Because of their large size and incredible fragrance, gardenias are perfect for creating a luxurious statement piece. Even a single stem placed in a simple vase on a coffee table can transform the atmosphere of a room. They are also a popular choice for corsages or as a standout bloom in a high-end, sophisticated bouquet.

3. Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

Star Jasmine is the flower most often mistaken for true jasmine, and for good reason. Its delicate white flowers are shaped like perfect little pinwheels or stars, looking almost identical to some varieties of true jasmine. 

These charming blossoms are often presented on their stems with their glossy, deep green leaves, which provide a beautiful natural contrast in a vase and give arrangements a fresh, garden-inspired feel.

The Scent: A Sweet Evening Aroma

The fragrance of Star Jasmine is intensely sweet and delightful, closely mirroring the beloved scent of true jasmine. Its beautiful perfume is known to become more noticeable and potent in the evening, making it a wonderful flower to have in a vase in your living room or bedroom, where its scent can create a calming and romantic atmosphere as the day winds down.

The Meaning: Friendship and Lasting Bonds

Star Jasmine is a symbol of love and strong, lasting connections. It often represents friendship and the enduring bonds between people. Including it in a bouquet for a friend is a lovely way to celebrate your connection and show how much you value their presence in your life.

Perfect For: Cascading and Ethereal Arrangements

The naturally vining stems of Star Jasmine lend themselves beautifully to floral designs that have a sense of movement and grace. Florists in Singapore love using it to create cascading bouquets that flow elegantly, or to add a touch of wild, natural beauty to a mixed floral arrangement. Its ethereal appearance adds a soft and romantic touch.

4. Philadelphus (Mock Orange)

Mock Orange flowers, or Philadelphus, possess a simple and understated charm. The blossoms are typically a lovely cup shape with four clean white petals surrounding a cluster of bright yellow stamens in the centre. While their form is more open and rounded than jasmine's star shape, they share a similar delicate and fresh aesthetic that brings a feeling of brightness and purity to any bouquet.

The Scent: A Fresh, Citrus-Kissed Fragrance

The name "Mock Orange" comes from its delightful fragrance. The flowers release a wonderfully sweet scent that is very similar to that of orange blossoms, with beautiful hints of citrus. This fresh, fruity note sets it apart from the purely floral scent of jasmine, offering a uniquely refreshing and uplifting aromatic experience.

The Meaning: A Symbol of Remembrance

Mock Orange flowers are often associated with memory and strong emotional ties. They can symbolise the remembrance of a person, a place, or a special moment in time. This makes them a particularly poignant and meaningful flower to include in an arrangement that is meant to honour a deep and lasting bond.

Perfect For: A Light and Airy Mixed Bouquet

With its bright appearance and refreshing scent, Mock Orange is a fantastic flower to incorporate into a light and airy mixed bouquet. It pairs beautifully with other soft-coloured blooms and adds a wonderful texture and a surprising touch of citrus fragrance. It is an excellent choice for a "just because" bouquet to brighten someone's day.

5. Hoya (Wax Plant)

Hoya flowers are truly unique and mesmerising. They grow in tight, spherical clusters of small, perfectly symmetrical star-shaped blossoms. Each tiny flower looks as if it has been crafted from porcelain or wax, giving it a fascinating and intricate appearance. This distinct texture makes Hoya a very interesting and eye-catching element in any floral composition.

The Scent: A Surprising, Sweet Perfume

The fragrance of Hoya can be a delightful surprise. Different varieties offer different scents, but they are often sweet and pleasant, sometimes with hints of vanilla, spice, or even chocolate. The perfume is typically strongest in the evening, adding another layer of interest to this already captivating flower.

The Meaning: A Token of Appreciation

Hoya is often given as a gift to express appreciation and to wish someone well. It is seen as a token of wealth and good fortune, making it a thoughtful flower for a housewarming gift or to congratulate someone on an achievement. Its long-lasting blooms symbolise enduring protection and care.

Perfect For: Modern and Unique Arrangements

The unusual, geometric beauty of Hoya flowers makes them a favourite for florists creating modern and contemporary arrangements. Their unique form and texture add a touch of the exotic and serve as a fantastic conversation starter. They are perfect for someone who appreciates flowers that are a little bit different and out of the ordinary.

6. Bouvardia

Bouvardia features charming clusters of small, trumpet-shaped flowers, where each trumpet opens up into a delicate four-pointed star. When grouped together at the end of a stem, these clusters create a full and textured look that is reminiscent of a spray of tiny jasmine blossoms. Their dainty appearance adds a touch of refined grace to floral designs.

The Scent: A Subtle and Delicate Sweetness

The fragrance of Bouvardia is light, sweet, and very gentle. It is much more subtle than the powerful scents of jasmine or gardenia, which makes it an excellent choice for people who are sensitive to strong smells but still appreciate a delicate floral perfume. Its gentle aroma enhances a bouquet without overwhelming the other flowers.

The Meaning: Enthusiasm and a Zest for Life

Bouvardia is a flower that represents passion, enthusiasm, and a vibrant zest for life. Its energetic and cheerful appearance makes it a wonderful flower to include in a celebratory bouquet, whether for a birthday, a graduation, or to simply share a feeling of joy and excitement with someone special.

Perfect For: A Delicate Filler Flower

Because of its clustered form and delicate nature, Bouvardia works wonderfully as a filler flower in arrangements. It adds volume, soft texture, and a gentle scent, helping to beautifully complement larger, more prominent blooms. It is versatile enough to be used in everything from bridal bouquets to simple vase arrangements for the home.

7. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

Tuberose makes a dramatic and elegant statement. The flowers grow along a tall, slender stalk, creating a tower of beautiful white blossoms. While the overall plant form is very different from jasmine, each individual flower is tubular and opens into a lovely star shape. The waxy, pure white petals of each blossom are certainly reminiscent of a single jasmine flower.

The Scent: A Powerful and Intoxicating Fragrance

Tuberose is world-famous for its incredible scent, which is a staple in the world of luxury perfumes. The fragrance is complex, rich, and powerfully sweet, becoming even more potent after the sun sets. A few stems of tuberose are enough to fill a large space with an intoxicating and unforgettable aroma that is the very definition of floral luxury.

The Meaning: Passion and Dangerous Pleasures

With its heady and alluring scent, it is no surprise that Tuberose is linked with passion, desire, and romance. It has a dramatic symbolism that speaks of intense emotions and dangerous pleasures. It is a flower for grand romantic gestures and for moments when you want to express deep and powerful feelings.

Perfect For: A Tall, Fragrant Statement Piece

The long, elegant stems of the Tuberose are perfect for creating tall and dramatic arrangements in a vase. They command attention and make a stunning statement piece for an entryway or a dining table. Tuberose is the ideal choice when you want a floral display that is impressive both to the eye and to the nose.

A Simple Guide to Arranging Your Flowers in a Vase

Receiving a beautiful bouquet is a true joy. With a few simple steps, you can arrange it in a vase like a professional, ensuring the blooms not only look their best but also last longer. This allows you to enjoy their beauty and fragrance in your home for days to come.

Start with the Right Preparation

First, choose a vase that complements your bouquet. The height should be about half the length of your flower stems, and the opening should be wide enough to allow the stems to spread out slightly but not so wide that they lose their shape. 

It is essential to start with a very clean vase. Wash it with soap and water to remove any bacteria that could harm your fresh flowers. Once clean, fill it about two-thirds full with fresh, cool water and stir in the flower food packet that came with your bouquet.

Creating Your Beautiful Display

Once your vase is ready, it is time to prepare the flowers themselves. This preparation is the key to a long-lasting and stunning arrangement. Follow these simple steps for the best results.

• Prepare Your Stems: Carefully unwrap your bouquet and remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline in the vase. This is a crucial step as submerged leaves can rot and create bacteria, which shortens the life of your flowers.
• Trim the Ends: Using sharp scissors or floristry shears, cut at least two centimetres off the bottom of each stem. Always cut them at a 45-degree angle, as this creates a larger surface area for the flowers to drink water more easily.
• Build a Foundation: Start by creating a base with any foliage or the sturdiest stems. Criss-cross them in the vase to form a grid-like structure. This will help to support the other, more delicate flowers and hold them in place.
• Add Your Main Flowers: Next, add your largest or most eye-catching flowers, which are known as the focal blooms. Place them at varying heights to create depth and interest in the arrangement.
• Fill in the Gaps: Use your smaller, secondary flowers and filler blooms, like Bouvardia, to fill in any empty spaces. As you add them, turn the vase around periodically to ensure the arrangement looks balanced and beautiful from every angle.

To keep your arrangement looking fresh, place it away from direct sunlight, drafts, or ripening fruit. Change the water every two days, and give the stems a fresh trim at the same time. This little bit of care will help you enjoy your beautiful flowers for much longer.

Conclusion On Flowers That Look Like Jasmine

While true jasmine holds a special place in our hearts, its beauty and fragrance are echoed in many other wonderful flowers. From the bridal elegance of Stephanotis to the bold luxury of Gardenia, there are many stunning alternatives to explore. 

Each of these jasmine lookalikes offers its own unique charm, scent, and meaning for you to enjoy. They provide fantastic variety for crafting the perfect bouquet for any mood or occasion, ensuring you can always find a beautiful, fragrant flower to love.

If you have any questions or want to order a bouquet of flowers, please contact us. Visit Singapore Florist to find beautiful flowers and bouquets for any occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flowers That Look Like Jasmine

What Flower Is Mistaken for Jasmine?

The flower most commonly mistaken for jasmine is Star Jasmine, also known as Trachelospermum jasminoides. This is because its star-shaped white flowers and sweet, pervasive scent are incredibly similar to those of true jasmine. Another flower, Stephanotis, is often called Madagascar Jasmine, which also leads to confusion.

What Is the Flower That Smells Like Jasmine but Isn't?

Several flowers have a beautiful jasmine-like scent. Mock Orange (Philadelphus) is famous for a sweet fragrance with citrusy notes. Star Jasmine has a scent that is almost identical to some true jasmine varieties. Additionally, Gardenia and Tuberose both have very powerful, sweet floral scents that are often compared to jasmine's fragrance.

What Is the Difference Between Star Jasmine and Jasmine?

Although they look and smell very similar, Star Jasmine and true jasmine belong to completely different plant families. True jasmine is part of the olive family (Oleaceae), while Star Jasmine is in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). For the purpose of enjoying them in a bouquet, their visual and scent similarities are what matter most, and both are beautiful choices.

Is Gardenia the Same as Jasmine?

No, Gardenia and jasmine are two very different flowers. Gardenias are large blooms with many layers of velvety, rose-like petals and a very strong, creamy fragrance. Jasmine flowers are typically smaller, simpler, and have a distinct star shape with a different kind of sweet, floral scent.

What Is the Most Fragrant Jasmine Lookalike for Bouquets?

For the most powerful, room-filling fragrance, Gardenia and Tuberose are the top choices. Their scents are famously potent and luxurious. If you are looking for a fragrance that is closest to the classic scent of true jasmine, Star Jasmine and Stephanotis are excellent options for a beautifully fragrant bouquet.

What Is the Difference Between Mock Orange and Jasmine?

The main differences between Mock Orange and jasmine are in their flower shape and their scent. Mock Orange flowers are usually cup-shaped with four petals and have a distinct citrusy fragrance similar to orange blossoms. Jasmine flowers are star-shaped and their scent is a purely sweet, floral perfume without the citrus notes.