Asiatic jasmine is a tough evergreen vine from East Asia that American gardeners plant as a low groundcover where lawn grass won't grow. Despite the name, it is not a true jasmine but belongs to the oleander family.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A woody evergreen vine. Planted as a groundcover it stays low and spreads; on a support it can climb to about 20 ft (6 m).
- Leaves
- Opposite, glossy, leathery dark green leaves about 3/4–2 in (2–5 cm) long.
- Flowers
- Small, very fragrant, pinwheel-shaped flowers, white to pale yellow with a yellow center, from late spring into summer. In Florida it rarely blooms.
Look-alikes
Star jasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides
Star jasmine has larger leaves and whiter flowers, and its sepals are larger and bent back, while Asiatic jasmine's are small and upright. In Asiatic jasmine the pollen-bearing tips poke slightly out of the flower tube; in star jasmine they stay hidden inside. You may need a close-up photo to see these flower details.
Why they get mixed upBoth are fragrant, glossy-leaved evergreen vines in the same genus, sold side by side.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- yards and gardens
- shady beds
- walls and fences
- Range
- Native to East Asia, including Japan and Korea. In the US it is grown as a groundcover and climber in mild-winter regions, roughly USDA zones 7–11; in Florida it can be planted statewide.
- Preferred conditions
- Grows in deep shade or full sun, tolerates salt spray, and handles both heat and cold. It is the hardiest of its genus, surviving brief frosts to about 5°F (−15°C).
Growing it
- Care
- Low-maintenance once established and drought tolerant. Too much water, sun, or fertilizer can make it aggressive, so it often does best with a little neglect. Mow or trim once a year in spring.
- Propagation
- Easy to root from cuttings, and dense patches can be cut and moved like sod.
- Toxicity
- Cut stems leak a milky sap, and the plant is considered poisonous.
Name and classification
- Varieties and forms
- Many variegated and dwarf cultivars are sold. 'Ogon Nishiki' has leaves that are more yellow than green.
More species to explore
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