Stroll through a Southern neighborhood in late spring, and you'll detect a sweet fragrance permeating the air. Look around for small, white, star-shaped blossoms hanging from vines. If you catch sight of these demure-looking flowers, you've been blessed by the scent of star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). The blooms give off a heady perfume that thickens at night.
Star jasmine is an evergreen vine native to China and Japan, but it is so ever-present that we associate it with late spring in the South. Though it only survives winters in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8-10, anyone can grow star jasmine in pots on a porch or patio. The flowers peak in May or June and appear sporadically through the summer. Grow just one star jasmine plant to make your porch smell like a sweet Southern summer—even at night.
How To Grow Star Jasmine
You can grow star jasmine in full or partial sun, though it will bloom more heavily in full sun. Star jasmine can be planted in the ground or grown in containers on a patio. Star jasmine is vigorous enough that you only need one plant for a trellis or post. You can grow it as a groundcover or hedge, spacing the plants 5 feet apart. You can even grow star jasmine in hanging baskets. If you grow jasmine in a container, expect to repot the plant every one to two years.
Plant star jasmine in rich, loose soil in a container or hole slightly wider than the nursery pot, then water it well. Water plants in the ground regularly for the first year, after which they can handle short dry spells. Containers will need to be watered anytime the top inch or two of soil is dry.
Supporting The Vines
Star jasmine is a versatile vine. You can let it sprawl on the ground as a groundcover. You can clip it into a hedge like a boxwood. You can tie it to a trellis, arbor, or fence and let it scramble. You can use it to turn your chain link fence into a screen. If you're growing star jasmine in a container, set it near a wall or fence, or give it a small trellis or stake to climb. Train the twining vines with wires and soft ties to make sure it grows in the right direction, filling in gaps as desired. If you let star jasmine climb the posts on your porch, be careful it doesn't attach to your gutters or trim. Star jasmine isn't as heavy as wisteria, but it can still detach gutters.
Pruning Star Jasmine
Star jasmine can grow to 20 feet long if you don't prune it. The plants take very well to pruning. They will branch and grow bushier the more you prune them, and snipping the tips is the first step toward creating thicker growth or a hedge. Wait until flowering slows down in summer before pruning so you don't cut off all the flowers. Don't prune the plant in the fall, when it needs to slow down in preparation for winter.
Overwintering Star Jasmine
If you're growing star jasmine in a container, it will need extra protection in areas that experience frost. One method is to dig a hole and place the pot in the ground so the roots aren't exposed. Pile plenty of leaves or straw over the soil for extra insulation. You can also bring star jasmine indoors for the winter if you live north of Zone 8. Move it inside when temperatures drop into the 40s in fall. Place star jasmine near a sunny window and water only when the top inch or two of soil dries out. Star jasmine can be sensitive to dry air, so consider using a humidifier or keeping it in a more humid space like a sunroom or greenhouse. Once spring arrives, you can move your plant back outdoors and wait for the sweet scent to arrive.
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