Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) Details

Trachelospermum jasminoides, commonly known as Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, or Chinese Jasmine, is an evergreen climber grown for its foliage and fragrant flowers. It carries dense and lush, dark green leaves which are glossy and serve as a lovely backdrop to the masses of fragrant, cream-white flowers through spring and summer. The foliage is held slender and wiry stems which sprawl across the ground as a dense groundcover or will intertwine and grow up a support structure. With a support structure, Trachelospermum jasminoides can grow to 8 m in length but it is usually contained with trimming. More commonly it will spread across the ground to about 50 cm tall and 2-3 m wide. Best performance with Star Jasmine is achieved when it is grown on a well-drained site in full sun or partial shade. It is tolerant of dry periods and moderate frost once established. In NZ gardens Star Jasmine is commonly used as a hardy groundcover, trained on a trellis or the like, planted so it can spill over a wall, included in outdoor living areas such as around a pool, or used in cottage or “white” gardens. The Plant Company recommends planting Star Jasmine anywhere the beautiful fragrance can be enjoyed.

Does Star Jasmine Make A Good Ground Cover Plant In NZ?

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) makes an excellent ground cover plant in NZ. It features beautiful flowers that are set against glossy, deep green leaves. The masses of star-shaped, white flowers afford a sweet and intoxicating fragrance. It is fast growing and forms a dense, low carpet of foliage. The thick foliage suppresses any weeds from growing and can help protect delicate soils from rain, thereby reducing erosion. Star Jasmine will spread to 2-3 m wide in just three years and requires little maintenance aside from watering during dry periods, occasional trimming, and a fertiliser application in spring. Moreover, Trachelospermum jasminoides can be grown on a wide variety of soil types, barring the extremes of wet and dry, and in partial shade. All these characteristics make Star Jasmine a near perfect ground cover plant for NZ, hence its popularity.