Do you ever admire the big houses with fancy landscapes that are featured in gardening magazines? Star jasmine is often one of the main features in many photos. This vine not only has an impressive name, but it is also sure to catch attention.
One of the main attractions of star jasmine is its flowers. At the end of spring, large groups of very gentle white flowers appear. The sweet fragrance of these flowers attracts bees and gardeners alike. The flowers are set against a backdrop of shiny, dark green leaves on spindly brown stems. The new leaves are a bright, vibrant green, and as they mature, they darken, giving the foliage a lovely, textured appearance.
All About Trachelospermum jasminoides
Trachelospermum jasminoides comes from China and Japan. Surprisingly though, it isn’t actually a true jasmine plant. The vine known as “swallow-wort” is actually a member of the Apocynaceae family, which also contains the plants known as periwinkle, milkweed, and hoya. The Stapelia flower is related to the carrion flower species. The Stapelia flower smells like rotting meat. This is a total opposite from the sweetly smelling white flowers of the star jasmine!
This vine, called Confederate jasmine or star jasmine, is very full-bodied and can be used in a variety of ways. It’s usually found growing as a climbing vine. It can be placed on a trellis, fence, wall, or any other structure you have. The Confederate jasmine can also be cultivated to grow as a shrub, ground cover, or even a hanging container plant.
The size of these plants is determined by how you choose to grow them. It generally grows to be 3-6 feet high and wide. This plant can also be used as a ground cover and kept 2 feet off the ground. Without intervention, star jasmine can grow up to 30 feet tall. This fragrant jasmine can be grown as an evergreen in zones 8-11. This plant does well in colder areas and makes a great container plant that can be placed both inside and outside.
The Main Types of Jasmine
- Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is a vigorous climber with clusters of fragrant white flowers in summer. It does best in well-drained soil in a sheltered spot that gets full sun. It grows quickly, and is ideal for covering walls or fences.
- Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) has bright yellow flowers on its arching stems in winter and early spring that aren’t scented. It’s a great choice to brighten up your winter garden ideas. It’s often grown as a hedge or trained against a wall. It’s happy in most situations, in sun or partial shade.
- Jasmine polyanthum is a house plant with very fragrant white flowers in later winter and spring. It can also be grown up a trellis in a conservatory, enclosed porch or heated greenhouse ideas.
Is Jasmine Easy to Grow?
Jasmine comes in many different varieties, so it is important to choose the right one for where it will be growing. If you pick a jasmine that is suited to the space you have available and the conditions of the area, it will be easy to grow successfully. It is usually a hardy plant that does well no matter where you plant it, preferably in full sunlight but some varieties do well in shady areas too.
Jasmine plants are generally resistant to pests and disease, but they are vulnerable to cold temperatures. When growing jasmine, it is important to take steps to protect the plants from the cold.
Where to Plant Jasmine
When trying to grow jasmine, it is important to choose the right location.
- Plant jasmine somewhere sunny, warm and sheltered, preferably framing a door or archway or near your outdoor seating ideas where you can most enjoy the scent.
- Summer-flowering jasmine does well in a sunny spot.
- Winter jasmine does best growing in the shelter of a north-facing wall so in the event of frost or snow it can thaw slowly and the flowers won’t turn brown. Winter flowering varieties do better planted in partial shade.
- If you want to grow jasmine for garden screening ideas, plant it near a wall or fence with adequate support for the plant to twine.
- You can also try planting jasmine so that it grows up and through a tree to create an eye catching feature.
- You can also combine jasmine with your trellis ideas for gardens. Plant it in a large pot with an obelisk or trellis for it to trail up and over.
How to Plant Jasmine
- Plant summer jasmine in spring or autumn, and winter jasmine in autumn or winter. Before planting always check labels carefully for individual requirements.
- Dig a planting hole and add well-rotted manure or compost to the bottom. On heavy soils, add plenty of grit to improve drainage.
- Plant summer jasmines like common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot. They dislike cold or frost-prone sites. They can be quite vigorous climbers and can be grown in containers or in the ground.
- Plant winter jasmine in sun or partial shade. It doesn’t need support, although it can be trained against your garden wall ideas. It can also be grown as a hedge.
- Keep tender jasmines indoors in a warm, bright spot such as a conservatory. You can also move them outside in summer, to a warm, sheltered spot but bring them back inside if temperatures drop at night.
Grow Jasmine in Pots
As long as jasmine is grown in well-draining soil and gets plenty of sun and water, it does well in a container garden. A loam-based compost is a good choice for your garden as it not only holds water well, but also has added nutrients.
You should try growing jasmine in a pot against a sunny wall. When winter comes, you’ll need to move your plant to a drier position and put it on pot feet so the water can drain.
Jasmine plants should be fed once a month with a high potassium liquid feed, such as tomato fertilizer, during the growing season.
You should rejuvenate your plant for the growing season by repotting it with fresh compost in spring.
Jasmine Growth Time
Some types of jasmine can grow very quickly and become uncontrollable. Star jasmine, or Trachelospermum Jasminoides, is a climber that grows quickly, and can cover walls, trellises, and fences. This is the perfect living wall if you’re looking for a quick way to cover an ugly boundary.
Star jasmine can grow up to 9 meters tall, however it will flop without support. Make sure you have a sturdy trellis in place.
Star Jasmine Care
Caring for jasmine plants is very important to keeping them healthy and happy. Even though you might think it would be hard to get your star jasmine to act like the star it is, it shouldn’t be a difficult task. Although it is not necessary, just in case, here are some care tips to help your plant grow.
Light & Temperature
This fragrant jasmine prefers full sun conditions, but it can’t tolerate the high temperatures that often come with them. If the temperature is high, create some shade in the afternoon. Partial-shade loving plants will do well as long as they have bright indirect lighting.
Although it cannot tolerate temperatures as low as 10° F, star jasmine is still a fairly tough plant. If you’re in a colder climate than zone 8, you’ll need to bring your plant inside to overwinter.
Water & Humidity
Star jasmine does not need a lot of water, but it does need to be watered consistently. Water newly planted jasmines regularly until well established. When the soil on top of your plant begins to dry out, give it some water. The frequency of watering will depend on the weather conditions. Water your plants more often during the summer to keep them hydrated.
Soil
This plant can grow in many different types of soil. This plant prefers loamy, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. It’s important that the soil doesn’t get too muddy.
Fertilizer
If the soil lacks organic matter or the plant is yellowing, it needs fertilizer. In the spring, applying a balanced slow-release fertilizer can help to encourage new growth. Established jasmine vine plants should be fertilized, but not newly planted ones.
Water weekly and feed with a high-potash fertilizer in summer, tying young shoots to their support as you go. You should fertilize jasmines in the ground with a general-purpose, granular fertilizer in spring.
Repotting
The best time to plant your jasmine vine is either in the spring or early fall, before winter comes. Re-potting your plant during the summer will require more water and care. Choose a container that is two times the size of your jasmine star. If you want your vine to climb, insert a trellis into the pot before planting.
Propagation
The best way to propagate star jasmine is by taking stem cuttings in the summer. Cut a 4-inch long cutting just below a leaf node using clean clippers. The cutting must be healthy, succulent, and preferably flower-free. To propagate roses from stem cuttings, first dip the end of the cutting in powdered or liquid rooting hormone. Then, plant the cutting upright in well-draining soil.
It takes approximately two to three weeks for the cutting to root, and another three to four weeks until it is ready for transplanting. Replace the text with your own words. This means watering the plant regularly and keeping it in a shady spot. Once you’ve transplanted the plant into the garden, make sure to water it often.
Overall, star jasmine is mostly pest and disease-free. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make this plant bullet-proof. Star jasmine may rarely experience the following problems.
Growing Problems
In some gardens, this fragrant jasmine can become invasive. If your Confederate jasmine is matched with smaller plants in a confined space, it will take over. You will need to trim it often to keep it from getting too big.
Plants enjoy sun exposure unless the temperature gets too high. It may be best to provide partial shade during the hot afternoon hours. If they have access to water, they will usually feel better once the temperature decreases.
Pests
If there is an infestation of mealybugs, the vine will become weaker because the mealybugs will suck the sap out of the leaves, causing damage. Loosen the bugs with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and pick them off. If neem oil is sprayed regularly, it will prevent the problem from happening again.
Make sure to check your indoor jasmine plants regularly as they may attract pests such as red spider mites or mealybugs. Moisten a cotton wool ball with rubbing alcohol and use it to remove the substance.
Confederate jasmine may draw rabbits to your garden. The caterpillars typically don’t inflict enough harm to significantly damage the plant, but you might lose a few leaves occasionally. The sweet smell of the white flowers and the sight of the lush green leaves are what bring them in!
Diseases
Sooty mold is a type of fungus that develops on the honeydew secreted by some insects. A fungus known as Alternaria tenuis spreads dark patches across the leaves. The mold won’t damage the plant directly, but it can make it harder for the plant to photosynthesize by blocking sunlight. You can prevent the growth of this fungus by keeping your star jasmine free of pests. To remove the mold, use a damp cloth to wipe it off the leaves. Neem oil can help prevent regrowth.
The most important advice for growing jasmine is to choose the right one for the space you have in mind. When considering which plant to choose for your garden, you should take into account its potential height, width, and strength. Get this right and it’s easy from there on.
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