Trachelospermum jasminoides Winter Ruby - Star Jasmine

The Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Winter Ruby' is a brand new selection of star jasmine whose foliage has the unique characteristic of turning red in cold weather. Adorned with such a winter outfit, this lovely vine, also known as False Jasmine, charms once again in early summer, adorned with shiny leaves in a very vibrant green and sprinkled with small white flowers with a penetrating fragrance, both spicy and sweet, capable of perfuming a whole section of the garden. Hardy in the northern part of continental Europe in a sheltered position, star jasmine also grows very well in a large container to elegantly dress up the terrace or balcony. Further south, it can be planted in the ground, in the sun or shade, where it will prove resistant to summer drought once well established.

Star jasmine is a climbing or creeping plant of the Apocynaceae family, related to periwinkles, but also to Allamanda and Mandevilla (the Dipladenia, a summer glory of our flowering pots). Its origins are found in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, where it grows on the edge of forests and among bushes. It is a plant whose foliage persists all year round, even in winter. 'Winter Ruby' was recently selected in France by Travers nurseries.

A bit slow to establish, the plant develops long twining stems that lignify quickly, with its vegetation able to cover over time more than 8m (26ft) in all directions, in favorable climates. The branches are adorned with opposite leaves, with entire lamina, oval in shape with a pointed tip. They are thick and leathery, glossy, light green in colour from spring until early autumn. In the usual Trachelospermum jasminoides, the red colouration of the leaves appears irregularly and when the plant is stressed, due to cold or intense drought. In 'Winter Ruby', the leaves uniformly take on a beautiful red hue with the drop in temperatures and light. Their size varies from 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) in length, 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in width. Twining branches encountering a moist surface emit aerial roots that allow the plant to cling to walls, the ground or stones, similar to ivy.

Another asset of Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Winter Ruby' is its flowering, abundant from May to July depending on the climate, and above all, divinely fragrant. The flowers are grouped in small clusters in the axils of the leaves and at the ends of the branches. The turbinate bud opens into a small corolla with a short tube that widens and divides into 5 narrow petals arranged in a helix. The diameter of the flowers reaches 2 to 3 cm (1in). The fruit, rarely observed in our latitudes, resembles two green beans connected at the ends. When ripe, it bears seeds with feathers. Like many plants in the Apocynaceae family, false jasmine contains alkaloids that are toxic to humans.

Moderately hardy, 'Winter Ruby' star jasmine can withstand temperatures of around -10°C (14°F) to -12°C (10.4°F) in our northern regions, when planted in a well-exposed position and in well-drained soil. In milder climates, its cultivation poses no problems. While it is most often used to climb walls or scale fences, it can also make an excellent ground cover, even in the shade of deciduous trees, as an alternative to ivy. Perfect for filling a hedge between evergreens or hiding an unpleasant view, Trachelospermum jasminoides can also form a beautiful 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, crown the slope of a hollow path etc. At its base, Mexican orange trees, shrubby lavateras, and creeping ceanothus will find a place. Its branches will mingle with those of clematis, honeysuckle or climbing solanum in mild climates.