Trachelospermum asiaticum, also known as Asiatic Jasmine, is a tough, medium-sized, evergreen shrub and vine with glossy, elliptical to oval dark-green leaves. In summer, it produces clusters of sweetly fragrant, creamy flowers that age to a yellow shade. Similar to Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine), this particular variety has smaller leaves in darker green and smaller flowers in creamy yellow shades. In the cooler months, the foliage often turns bronze-red in colour before returning to its green shade in spring. Asiatic Jasmine is a hardier variety than Star Jasmine.
Landscape uses
Asiatic Jasmine is perfect for ground cover as its dense, low and slow-growing. It will also climb a fence, trellis or arbour with supports. You can also plant it in containers or allow it to cascade out of hanging baskets. In our Canterbury Vine project, we used Trachelospermum asiaticum to underplant Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ tree.
How to plant
Plant in full sun to part shade and in well-drained soil. Trachelospermum asiaticum grows to 15-30cm tall, spreading and rooting laterally. It can grow up to 4.5m – 6m high on a structure.
Care and maintenance
An extremely low-maintenance plant and perfect for beginners! Prune in early spring and propagate by layering semi-hardwood cuttings. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and disease resistant.
