Trachelospermum asiaticum Pink Showers - Asian Jasmine

The Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Pink Showers' is a beautiful novelty that brings a touch of fantasy to the kingdom of climbing lianas. This new star jasmine offers pink flowers instead of the usual cream or white, diffusing the same extraordinary biscuit-like fragrance that we appreciate so much throughout the summer in the species. This voluble liana, adorned with small persistent shiny foliage that takes on pretty reddish hues in the cold and shade, also has the advantage of remaining attractive all year round. It can be installed near a fence, a pergola, or to cover the ground, which it will slowly but surely invade.

The Trachelospermum asiaticum, also known as yellow false jasmine, is a Japanese and Korean cousin of the Chinese Trachelospermum jasminoides. The 'Pink Showers' selection, recently obtained in France by Pépinières Travers and distinguished with the 1st prize Innovert at the Salon du Végétal in 2016, stands out with its flowering of tender pink stars with a small yellow heart. All of these plants belong to the apocynaceae family. This voluble liana produces long stems that can reach up to 5m (16ft) in length. They bear small, single, ovate leaves, on average 6cm (2in) long and 3cm (1in) wide, with pointed tips. They have a medium green color, with a shiny finish, turning brownish-orange tinged with reddish during winter. The flowering, long and abundant, takes place from May-June to August-September, for almost 4 months. Small bouquets of star-shaped flowers, helical, 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide, appear in the axils of the leaves or at the tips of the branches. Their fragrance, reminiscent of jasmine, is however much sweeter, strongly imbued with vanilla.

A single plant of this Pink Showers false jasmine is capable of perfuming a whole area of the garden, especially in the evening and in hot weather. Under most climates, except for the coldest ones, it can be planted in the ground, preferably well-drained and humus-rich, in sunny or semi-shaded exposure. With relatively slow growth, this Trachelospermum asiaticum is most often used as a climber to cover a fence or a pergola, but it can also form a magnificent ground cover, resembling a soft, tender pink and fragrant carpet. It can be grown in pots in colder regions to be able to shelter it in winter. It can then be easily stored in an unheated veranda to enjoy its beautiful winter foliage. Balconies and terraces can also accommodate its prodigious flowering by placing the plant in a large container.