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Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) - This is an extremely popular and unforgettably fragrant fast growing semi-tropical evergreen shrub, vine or liana with opposite 2-inch-long elliptical leathery glossy dark green leaves on stems that lay flat to the ground but can also twine to 20 feet with support. In late spring the new flush of growth is a bright green and by the summer appear the strongly perfumed windmill/star-shaped3/4 inch wide white flowers hanging in clusters on outside branches. The individual flowers open over a long period providing an extended flowering and the petals and sepals on each are uniquely rolled back along the margins.
Plant in sun or part shade in soil with decent drainage and give occasional to infrequent summer watering - pretty drought tolerant along the coast but looks better with occasional irrigation. Heat tolerant in inland valleys and frost hardy to around 10° F though leaves have a tendency to turn bronzy in the winter with temperatures below freezing. It responds to pruning or even shearing but care should be used to do so after flowering as the flowers are held on the previous year's growth. A very dependable plant that is planted throughout California as a groundcover or a vine and, because of its strong fragrance, is sometimes over wintered indoors in colder climates to be used as a summer patio plant in a pot or hanging basket. The strong fragrance of this plant might be too strong for some and for so we suggest it be put at least a few feet away from living areas so it can be enjoyed but not be overwhelming.
Trachelospermum jasminoides is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, into Japan, Korea, southern China, and Vietnam. The name this plant was first described as was Rhynchospermum jasminoides by British botanist John Lindley in 1846 but it was reclassified by the French botanist Charles Antoine Lemaire in 1851. The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'trachelos' meaning "a neck" and 'sperma' meaning "a seed" for the shape of the seeds - the old name has a similar meaning with 'Rhyncho' coming from the Greek word 'rhunkos' meaing "a snout" or "a beak" and the specific epithet means "Jasmine like". One of the common names of this plant, Confederate Jasmine, leads to the misinterpretation that this plant is native to the southeast US but according to Edwin Menninger in his Flowering Vines of the World" the name is for the Federation of Malay States, an area to which this plant IS native. Other common names for this include Climbing Dogbane (in reference to its plant family) and Trader's Compass (reportedly from an Uzbekistan saying that it pointed well-meaning traders in the right direction).
We have grown this plant at the nursery since 1979 and also grow a pink flowing version called cousin Trachelospermum 'Pink Showers.
This information about Trachelospermum jasminoides displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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