Trachelospermum jasminoides - Star Jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides, better known as False Jasmine or Star Jasmine, is a woody climbing plant from China related to periwinkles, famous for the penetrating fragrance of its small white flowers, both spicy and sweet. Remarkable for its vigour, it develops long twining stems adorned with persistent and glossy, leathery foliage, sometimes taking on beautiful red hues. In June-July, its flowering is capable of perfuming an entire section of the garden, without being as overpowering as that of true jasmine. Star jasmine also thrives in a large container to elegantly adorn the terrace or balcony. In warm areas it can be planted directly in the ground, in sun or shade, where it will show resistance to summer drought once well established.

Star jasmine is a climbing or creeping plant from the Apocynaceae family, a cousin of periwinkles, but also of Alamanda and Mandevilla (Dipladenia). It originates from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, where it grows on the edge of forests and among shrubs. A bit slow to establish, the plant develops long stems that quickly lignify, with its persistent vegetation being able to cover more than 8m (26ft) in all directions over time in favourable climates. The branches are adorned with opposite leaves, with an ovate shape and a pointed tip. They are thick and leathery, glossy, and bright green, varying in darkness depending on the nature of the soil. Their size ranges from 5 to 12cm (2 to 5in) in length and 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in width. When the plant is stressed due to cold or intense drought, the leaves take on a beautiful reddish hue, more intense in partial shade than in full sun, before falling off. When conditions become more favourable, new leaves appear to replace them. Twining branches encountering a moist surface emit aerial roots that allow the plant to cling to walls, the ground, or stones, much like ivy.

The major asset of Trachelospermum jasminoides is its abundant flowering, from May to July depending on the climate, and above all its heavenly fragrance. The flowers are grouped in small clusters in the axils of the leaves and at the tips of the branches. The turbinate bud opens up into a small corolla with a short tube that widens and divides into 5 narrow petals arranged in a spiral. The diameter of the flowers reaches 2 to 3cm (1in). The fruit, rarely observed in temperate latitudes, bears ripened seeds. Like many plants from the Apocynaceae family, false jasmine contains alkaloids that are toxic to humans.

Moderately hardy, star jasmine can withstand temperatures around -10°C (14°F) to -15°C (5°F) when planted in a well-exposed location with well-drained soil. In milder climates, its cultivation presents no problem. While it is most often used to climb walls or fences, it can also form an excellent ground cover, even in the shade of deciduous trees, as an alternative to ivy. Perfect for filling out a hedge between evergreens or hiding an unpleasant view, Trachelospermum jasminoides can also create a lovely permanent "tunnel," a passage between two areas of the garden; it can be trained on a structure made with two arches joined by wires. It can also adorn the edge of a staircase, and crown the slope of a sunken path... At its base, Mexican orange trees, shrubby lavenders, and creeping ceanothus can be planted. Its branches will intertwine with those of clematis, honeysuckles, or climbing solanum in mild climates.