Climber
Star jasmine
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in June | Flowers in July | Flowers in August | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in April | Plant in May | Plant in September | |||||||||
| Prune | Prune in August | Prune in September | ||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in January | Looks good in February | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in November | Looks good in December |
Overview
Trachelospermum jasminoides is not a true jasmine, but its pinwheel-shaped white flowers carry a similar heady scent through July evenings. The glossy dark leaves stay on all year and often turn bronze-red in cold weather, giving winter interest on a wall. Growth is slow for the first couple of years, then speeds up. 'Variegatum' has cream-splashed leaves, and the related Trachelospermum asiaticum is a little hardier, with smaller, creamy-yellow flowers.
Where to grow star jasmine
In most of the UK and Ireland it needs a sunny or lightly shaded wall or fence facing south or west, out of cold winds. Coastal and southern town gardens suit it best; in colder areas grow it in a large pot you can move under cover in a severe winter. Heavy, wet clay is its main enemy.
Planting
Plant in late spring once frosts are over, or early autumn in mild areas. Improve heavy soil with grit, plant at the same depth as in the pot and provide horizontal wires; it twines rather than clinging, so tie early shoots in until they take hold.
Care through the year
Spring
Feed with a general fertiliser and tie in new growth along the wires.
Summer
Water in dry spells, especially in pots, and enjoy the scent at dusk.
Autumn
Stop feeding so stems harden before winter.
Winter
Wrap pots and fleece young wall plants when temperatures drop well below freezing.
Pruning
Little pruning is needed. After flowering, trim shoots that are growing out of bounds and remove dead or frosted stems. The stems bleed a milky sap when cut, so wear gloves if your skin is sensitive.
Propagation
Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in a warm, covered propagator. Layering a low stem in spring is slower but reliable.
Common problems
Yellowing leaves usually point to cold, waterlogged roots or a nutrient shortage. Scale insects and, under glass, mealybugs can build up on stems; wipe them off by hand. Leaves scorched by frost are replaced in spring.
Guides to the problems most likely to affect star jasmine:
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in April, May, August and September. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.