Trachelospermum jasminoides

Common Names

Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, Chinese Jasmine, Southern Jasmine, Chinese Ivy

Summary

Star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, is an evergreen climber native to China and Japan (with Korea noted in some sources), distinguished by twining stems, glossy dark green leaves that bronzy-red in winter, and intensely fragrant white star-shaped flowers that appear from spring into summer.

It grows best in full sun to partial shade on well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (about 6.0–7.0) and, once established, is drought-tolerant; a support such as a trellis or wall is needed for climbing, though it can also be grown as ground cover or hedge and trained as desired. It can be propagated by layering or semi-ripe cuttings, pruning after flowering to control size, and requires regular watering in the first year with light fertilization in fertile soils; it is generally pest- and disease-free though cushion scale and mealybugs may occur, and is not toxic to humans or pets, while scent from flowers attracts bees and hummingbirds, making it suitable for warm, sheltered landscapes, borders, walls, arbors, or containers.

Lifecycle

Perennial, Annual

Height

24-240 inches

Spread

13-26.5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun or Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, fertile loamy soil with a pH around 6.0–7.0.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

White (may become cream with age)

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

3–6 feet per year once established; fast-growing, vigorous.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Layering, Cuttings, Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, Attracts hummingbirds