5 Jasmines with decorative foliage

Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Ogon Nishiki’, a firework for groundcover

The Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Ogon Nishiki’ is a Japanese cousin of Trachelospermum jasminoides. It is a climbing plant with evergreen variegated foliage that rarely exceeds 80 cm in height, with stems measuring up to 1.5 m. Consequently, it is most often used as a groundcover that brightens shady areas with its vibrant foliage – green, cream, and red – which transforms into an autumnal firework display of orange, yellow, and bronze.

In summer, its yellow flowering beautifully scents the air. It will thrive in a large pot in partial shade on the terrace, allowing you to fully enjoy its star-shaped flowers and fragrance.

Its abundant foliage can stand on its own, so you can plant it in isolation. It can also be paired with the very classic Trachelospermum jasminoides, which, with its beautiful glossy green foliage, will serve as a sort of setting and highlight the colour palette of Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Ogon Nishiki’.

Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Ogon Nishiki’

Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Theta’, a small liana with very graphic foliage

The Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Theta’ is a very surprising horticultural variety. It has very fine evergreen leaves that give it an extremely graphic appearance. Dark green in colour, they are marked in the centre by a white band. In autumn, once exposed to the cold, they take on a beautiful purple hue.

The yellow star-shaped flowers of this variety, although fewer in number than those of the species type, have a very sweet fragrance that fills the air in early summer.

It can be trained to climb along a support, but it is more suitable as groundcover due to its rather slow growth and its lianas that reach a maximum length of 2 m. With its small size, it is also perfectly suited for container cultivation, from which it will elegantly spill over.

Daffodils and jonquils with yellow flowering, planted at the base of the Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Theta’, will precede the flowering in similar tones and bring light and colour in spring. You can also choose other spring bulbs.

Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Theta’

Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’, a bright alternative to ivy

The Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ stands out from the typical species due to its variegated green and white leaves which bring a lot of brightness to the garden, especially in semi-shaded areas. This medium hardy plant is quite easy to grow: it can be planted in the ground or in pots. It also tolerates sunny situations.

This climbing plant flowers in summer, from June to August, displaying numerous star-shaped white flowers that emit a delightful fragrance. The cream-white colour of the leaves and the white flowers make Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ an ideal candidate for creating a white garden. For example, you might choose to accompany it with a Mexican orange blossom Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’ with its naturally rounded habit and dark green evergreen foliage.

This very voluble plant, whose lianas can cover 5 m in all directions, is perfect for covering a pergola. This variety, which can be used both as a climber and groundcover, is also a bright and fragrant alternative to the much darker ivy. Additionally, it takes on a beautiful purple hue in autumn.

Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ (photo by Leonara Enking)

Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Sun Lover’, an ideal jasmine for mild climates

The Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Sun Lover’ is another very bright variety with variegated foliage recently developed. Its evergreen leaves are green variegated with cream yellow and take on a beautiful red hue in extreme cold or drought.

Its foliage is not its only asset. In summer, the flowering of a multitude of small star-shaped white flowers delights the senses with its delicious fragrance. Position it near resting or passing areas to fully enjoy its scent.

Its growth is slightly weaker than that of Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’, with lianas reaching up to 3.5 m in all directions. However, its use is quite similar. You can either let the plant climb on a support or allow it to run along the ground, for example, to cover a slope. It thrives in full sun as well as partial shade, but is a bit less hardy than its relatives and only tolerates short frosts around -5°C.

The Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Sun Lover’ can be paired with a wisteria, which, with its earlier flowering, will fill the air with fragrance in spring.

Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Sun Lover’

Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Winter Ruby’, the jasmine of harsh winters

Much more classic than the previous false jasmines, the Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Winter Ruby’ stands out in autumn with its foliage that takes on a splendid homogeneous intense red colour in the cold, a hue it retains throughout winter. For the rest of the year, this star jasmine displays glossy, evergreen leaves that are green in colour.

At the beginning of summer, its flowering is abundant and wonderfully fragrant with its numerous small star-shaped white flowers.

Very vigorous, this false jasmine can cover large areas with its lianas up to 6 m long. It is also hardier than most other jasmines and can be grown in pots as well as in the ground.

It can be paired with Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Winter Ruby’ with other climbing plants, particularly winter-flowering clematis. The clematis Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ and Clematis cirrhosa ‘Advent Bells’ with their beautiful pink flowers will be highlighted, like in a setting, by the red foliage of this star jasmine.

Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Winter Ruby’