Star Jasmine Plants - Trachelospermum jasminoides

• Variety: Star Jasmine – evergreen, scented, and tougher than you think
• Latin name: Trachelospermum jasminoides
• Also known as: Confederate jasmine (not a true jasmine – see FAQ)
• Type: Evergreen self-twining climber
• Flower: White, fading to cream. Intensely fragrant
• Scent: Rich and sweet, carrying well in warm weather
• Foliage: Glossy dark green, turning bronze in winter
• Climbing method: Self-twining stems
• Height: To 8m (26ft)
• Flowering: July–August
• Hardiness: H4 – hardy in most of England and Wales with wall protection
• RHS AGM: Yes (confirmed December 2024)
• Sold as: P9 and 3L deep pots, grown from cuttings by us. Peat-free compost
• Plant outdoors: Year-round
• Delivered: March–November typically. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) – A Wall of Scent

We fell in love with star jasmine renting an apartment in Italy, walking out onto the terrace every morning to be greeted with the sight and the scent. The good news is that it grows here too. We have one at home on a north-facing wall that flowers magnificently from July onwards; by high summer it is a sheet of white and the house is full of scent. Star jasmine is not a true jasmine (Jasminum) at all; it is Trachelospermum jasminoides, a completely different plant, evergreen, self-twining, and rather more ornamental. It holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit.

The flowers are white, fading gently to cream, produced in clusters from July to August. The scent is not quite as strong as common jasmine but the foliage is very much more attractive: glossy, dark green leaves that turn a warm bronze through winter. That winter colour is a positive advantage, giving the plant character at a time when foliage and colour are both welcome. In spring, fresh green growth returns and the cycle starts again. The plant will reach 8m in time, on any aspect of wall. Moist roots in the growing season and a good mulch are what it asks for.

Tougher Than Its Reputation

Star jasmine has an undeserved reputation for tenderness. Ours have taken temperatures as low as minus seven degrees without flinching. It is not the hardiest climber you can grow, and we would not plant it on a windswept hilltop, but on a wall or fence with reasonable shelter it is a much tougher plant than people give it credit for. The RHS rates it H4, which means most of England and Wales and sheltered sites further north. For a truly exposed garden in northern England or Scotland, consider common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) instead: less glossy, less evergreen, but intensely scented and fully hardy.

Companions for an Evergreen Scented Wall

Star jasmine flowers in July and August, so for an earlier display on the same wall or a neighbouring one, Clematis armandii Apple Blossom gives scented pink-white flowers from March and is also evergreen. For late-season succession, Serotina honeysuckle carries on from July to October with a completely different scent profile; strongest in the evening, where star jasmine is at its best in the warmth of the day. At the base, lavender (Hidcote or Grosso) picks up the Mediterranean theme, and spring bulbs give early interest before the star jasmine's main season. Browse the other Trachelospermum varieties we grow.

About These Plants

We raise star jasmine from cuttings and we would not dream of sending out a plant that did not already have that characteristic glossy foliage. The plants in P9 pots are small; it is only a 9cm pot. The plants in 3-litre pots are considerably bigger and will be supported with three canes to which they have been tied in. Both sizes are grown in peat-free compost with biological controls throughout. We are a Which? Gardening Best Buy supplier and a Feefo Platinum Partner, and every plant is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is star jasmine the same as regular jasmine?

No. Star jasmine is Trachelospermum jasminoides; regular jasmine is Jasminum officinale. They are completely different genera. Star jasmine is evergreen, self-twining, and H4 hardy. True jasmine is deciduous or semi-evergreen, a scrambler that needs tying in, and generally hardier. Both are scented, both are white-flowered, and the confusion is understandable; but the plants are not related.

Is star jasmine evergreen?

Yes. It keeps its leaves year-round. The foliage turns bronze in cold weather, which is actually one of its attractions; you get a colour change through winter, then fresh green growth in spring. In a very harsh winter the leaves may look slightly tired, but they recover quickly once temperatures rise.

Is star jasmine hardy in the UK?

Hardier than most people expect. Ours have survived minus seven degrees without apparent damage. The RHS rates it H4, meaning it is hardy in most of England, Wales, and sheltered coastal areas further north. Give it wall protection rather than an open, exposed position and it will be fine in the vast majority of UK gardens. If you are in a cold area, plant it on a south-facing or west-facing wall for extra warmth.

When does star jasmine flower?

July to August, with occasional flowers lingering into early September in a warm year. The flowers open white and fade gradually to cream. The display is best in a warm, sunny position, but ours flowers well on a north wall too.

When should I prune star jasmine?

After flowering, in late summer or early autumn. Prune lightly to keep it tidy and within its allotted space. Star jasmine does not need hard pruning; it is naturally well-behaved and you are unlikely to need to do much beyond cutting back the odd wayward shoot. On walls, train the main stems to vine eyes and wires, tying in as the plant grows.

Can I grow star jasmine in a pot?

Yes, and very successfully. Choose a pot at least 30cm across, use a loam-based compost (John Innes No. 3 mixed with some peat-free multipurpose), and give it a sheltered position. Water consistently through the growing season and feed fortnightly with a high-potash liquid feed from April to August. Container-grown star jasmine can be moved under cover in a severe winter if you are concerned about hardiness.