Star Jasmine Plant Care And Growing Tips

The Star Jasmine plant is an ideal choice for a shade tolerant flowering vine.  Grow Star Jasmine trained on a trellis or allow to ramble as a groundcover. 

Star Jasmine vine is a plant highly prized for ease of care and lovely scented flowers. Use these care and growing tips to grow Star Jasmine and experience this unique plant year after year.

 Also known as Confederate Jasmine, Star Jasmine is a twining vine with oval, leathery three-inch leaves that are glossy light green when new, maturing to a darker green.  The white flowers grow as clusters of one inch pinwheel shaped blossoms on top of the dark green foliage during spring and summer.

The blossoms give off a deliciously sweet scent.  You don’t even have to see the flowers to know it’s in bloom, as the plant can easily perfume an entire yard.  Snip a few tendrils in the early morning when the dew is still on the blossoms, and enjoy the fragrance indoors all day.    

Botanical Name:  Trachelospermum jasminoides

Common Names:  Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, Southern Jasmine, Chinese Star Jasmine. 

Hardiness Zone:  8-10 – cooler zones can bring potted plants indoors for winter, or use as annual. 

Bloom Time:  Spring flush of blooms and sporadic summer blossoming

Pollinators:  The fragrant white flowers will attract bees and butterflies to your landscape

Star Jasmine Vine Shrub
from: Perfect Plants Nursery

Mature Size

Star Jasmine grows 3-6 feet a year until it reaches a maximum of 20-25 feet under ideal conditions.   Star Jasmine is a vigorous grower.

Sun Exposure

Thrives most in full sun to partial shade but fewer blooms in less sun and less vigorous growth.

Soil Type

Tolerant of a wide range of soil types, any well-drained soil is perfect.  Moderate moisture, especially while young plants are establishing. It prospers in a variety of planting sites as long as it is in well-drained soil.

Moisture

Water deeply for the first year of planting, especially during dry spells, to establish a strong root system.   Mature plants are drought tolerant.  To prevent moisture loss, Blanket the soil around plants with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch.

Uses 

Star Jasmine is easy to grow as a climber or ground cover.  It is known for its ability to frame objects such as arches for walkways, and is easy to trim as desired.

Use Jasmine to frame porches or mailbox, accent trellises, lamp posts or for screening.  Create privacy or naturally mask a view by growing on fences or walls.  

Allow Star Jasmine to sprawl as a quick groundcover under partially shady trees. Indoors it will readily spill over the edges of hanging baskets or climb up a small trellis.  Note that the less sunlight the less flowers will bloom and less vigorous growth will occur.

Great for use in containers and as indoor houseplants, especially in Zone 8 or cooler.  Choose a pot with drainage and organically rich potting mix. 

Bees and rabbits love this vine, so be aware of where you’re planting it.

 Note:  Star Jasmine vine is not the same plant for Jasmine tea and is not edible.  Look for Jasminum species such as J. officinale, J. sambac, to fragrance tea.  

See more Shade Tolerant Flowering Vines

 Care of Star Jasmine Vine

No special plant care is required for well-established plants, except trimming to maintain the desired shape, and occasional fertilizing.  Water deeply for the first year of planting, especially during dry spells, to establish a strong root system.   

With proper care and conditions, Star Jasmine can live many years, so take care to provide a sturdy foundation for their growth. 

Protect from cool drying winds which can severely damage the plant.

Fertilizer

Start fertilizing after new growth occurs in spring but before the flower buds are formed. Feed with a liquid Jasmine Fertilizer that is formulated with the proper blend of nutrients for feeding flowering plants.  During the season, fertilize every six weeks.

Pruning

Prune when it outgrows its space or once a year to encourage new growth. Pruning is recommended in spring or summer as soon as the plant is finished flowering.  Prune regularly during summer to keep the plant in desired shape.  Avoid pruning during late autumn and winter because the plant is preparing itself for spring flowering at that time.  

Common Pests and Diseases

The Star Jasmine is typically a disease and pest free type of jasmine.  Weakened plants may be affected by problems with scale insects, honeydew and sooty mold. Weakened plants may also be susceptible to predation by Japanese beetles.  Don’t overwater plants and keep pruned to allow air movement throughout vine and avoid overcrowding of stems.

Star Jasmine combines ease of care and the benefits of a shade tolerant vine that flowers.

See more Shade Tolerant Flowering Vines you may consider.