Common jasmine

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowers best in sun, with shelter from cold, drying winds.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Keep container soil lightly moist, not waterlogged.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates chalk, loam, sand and clay provided drainage is adequate.

Height

15-30 ft (4.5-9 m)

Spread

6-15 ft (1.8-4.5 m), depending on training and pruning

Flowers

Clusters of fragrant white flowers from early summer into early autumn, depending on climate.

Foliage

Green leaves divided into usually five to nine pointed leaflets; deciduous to semi-evergreen.

Growth

Fast once established

Care needed

Medium

• Provide sturdy wires, trellis or a pergola, and tie in young stems until they begin twining.
• Water deeply through the first growing season and during extended drought.
• Apply compost and a balanced fertiliser in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Mulch the root area in spring, keeping mulch clear of the main stems.
• In colder areas, choose a sheltered wall and protect container roots from prolonged freezing.

Pruning. Prune after the main flowering flush, shortening flowered shoots and removing tangled, weak or unwanted stems. Renovate an overgrown plant in early spring by cutting back old framework stems, accepting reduced flowering that year.

Early spring

Remove dead or frost-damaged stems once new growth shows which wood is alive.

Spring

Plant into warming soil, water thoroughly, and add compost or mulch.

Late spring

Tie new shoots along supports, spreading them out rather than allowing a dense knot to form.

Summer

Water during dry spells and check young shoots for aphids.

Late summer

After the main flowering flush, shorten flowered shoots and take semi-ripe cuttings.

Late autumn

Check support ties and move containers into a sheltered position where winters are cold.

• Train over a pergola beside a terrace so the scented flowers hang near seating.
• Cover a sunny wall with wires, keeping growth clear of gutters and roof tiles.
• Grow over an entrance arch for summer fragrance and a loose, leafy outline.
• Pair with climbing roses on a strong support for overlapping flowers and contrasting flower shapes.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, English country, Sensory garden, White garden and Mediterranean.

Plant it with: Climbing roses, Clematis, Lavender, Catmint and Hardy geraniums.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for visiting insects, including moths. Dense established growth can offer shelter and nesting cover for small birds.

• Aphids on soft shoots: wash off small colonies with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Red spider mites, especially under glass or in hot, dry sites: inspect leaf undersides and use an appropriate insecticidal soap if needed, following the label.
• Few flowers: improve light, stop high-nitrogen feeding and avoid repeatedly clipping off summer growth.
• Winter dieback or root rot: provide shelter and free-draining soil; remove dead stems in spring and never leave containers standing in water.

Common jasmine is not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as a serious poisoning hazard, though eating plant material can cause digestive upset. Do not confuse it with toxic plants also called jasmine, especially Carolina jessamine.

• Pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)

  Has conspicuous pink buds opening to white flowers, usually in late winter or spring, and is less cold-hardy than common jasmine.

• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

  Has thick, glossy, undivided evergreen leaves and pinwheel-shaped white flowers; common jasmine has leaves divided into several leaflets.

• Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

  Has yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers and undivided leaves. It is poisonous and is not a true jasmine.

Jasminum comes from the Persian name for jasmine, while officinale means associated with an apothecary or traditional medicinal use.

Propagation. Layer a low-growing shoot in spring, or take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer. Keep cuttings in a sheltered, humid place until rooted.

Accepted botanical name

Jasminum officinale

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Tadzhikistan, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkey and West Himalaya.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7. Average height 350 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.