Trachelospermum jasminoides Waterwheel - Star Jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Waterwheel' is a variety of star jasmine that stands out for its small size and slender, elongated leaves that change colour throughout the seasons. Decorative all year round, it rarely flowers. With its compact, dense and well-branched vegetation from the base, this selection is perfect for small spaces and container gardening. Its design is perfect in contemporary or Japanese-inspired settings.

The Waterwheel star jasmine is a climbing or creeping plant of the Apocynaceae family, it is a cousin of periwinkles, but also of the Alamanda and the Mandevilla (Dipladenia). Its botanical ancestor, Trachelospermum jasminoides, is native to China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, where it grows on the edge of forests and among bushes.

'Waterwheel' is a small twining climber that produces highly branched stems not exceeding 2m (7ft) in length. The spring shoots are purplish red, then the stems turn green. They bear small, glossy, single leaves, about 5cm (2in) long and 1.5cm (1in) wide on average, entire, narrow and elongated ovals, with pointed tips. At budbreak, they are often coloured purple. Then their colour is a fairly dark green with bluish reflections, traversed by silver veins, with autumn and the drop in temperatures causing the appearance of warmer colours such as orange and bronze. Flowering takes place from May-June to August-September, in successive waves depending on the moisture of the soil. White star-shaped flowers, 2cm (1in) wide, appear at the axil of the leaves or at the end of the branches. Their perfume, reminiscent of jasmine, is however much sweeter and strongly accented with vanilla.

Trachelospermum Waterwheel brings any area to life throughout the year. In most climates, except for the coldest ones, it can be planted in the ground, in preferably well-drained and humus-rich soil, in sunny or semi-shaded exposures. It forms an original ground cover, but can also be planted on a small structure or trellis. It can be grown in a pot in colder areas to allow you to shelter it in winter, storing it in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory to enjoy its beautiful winter foliage. To accompany it, consider for example some variegated ivy.