Trachelospermum jasminoides

30 May

Trachelospermum jasminoides (30/06/2015, Walworth, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist but well drained

Flowering period: Summer

Eventual Height: 9m

Eventual Spread: 6m

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 0b, 10a, 10b, 11a

Family: Apocynaceae

Trachelospermum jasminoides is an evergreen climber with a twining habit. Its dark green glossy leaves ovate to elliptic with entire margins, up to 8cm long and 3.5cm broad. Some of its older leaves will turn bronze/ red in winter. Its fragrant white flowers are up to 3cm across and appear as terminal axillary cymes.

Trachelospermum jasminoides flower (15/05/2011, Paris)

Trachelospermum jasminoides, commonly known as Star Jasmine or Confederate Jasmine, is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, into Japan, Korea, southern China, and Vietnam. Its fragrant flowers are used to make perfume and its stems are harvested for their useful fibrous nature, to make ropes and textiles.

The etymological root of the binomial name Trachelospermum is derived from the Greek trachelos meaning ‘throat’ and karpus meaning ‘seed’. Jasminoides is derived from the Latin alluding to this plant’s jasmine like properties (twining habit, flower and fragrance).

Trachelospermum jasminoides is useful to the landscape architect as an impressive evergreen fragrant climber. It should be noted that this climber is not the most vigorous compared to other climbers. It prefers a south facing aspect.

Trachelospermum jasminoides Leaf (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Trachelospermum jasminoides prefers moist, humus rich, well drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Trachelospermum jasminoides flowers are attractive to pollinating insects including bees and butterflies.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Trachelospermum jasminoides their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

The initial shoots of Trachelospermum jasminoides may be tied to to its structure, once established it will twine itself around any support and continue to grow upwards. Congested, weak or badly placed shoots may be pruned out in spring.