Holiday - Asiatic Jasmine

Why Asiatic Jasmine is a Great Holiday Plant

There is hardly a garden in the world that doesn’t have difficult shady spots beneath trees. We all love big trees for their beauty and the cooling shade they bring, but oh my, what can I find to grow underneath them? If you hear this from family or friends, or you have this problem yourself, we have the answer for you. Solve your holiday gift problems with the perfect groundcover plant – Asiatic Jasmine. What periwinkle is for cold-zone gardeners, Asiatic Jasmine is for warmer zones. This tough but handsome trailing vine makes a dense covering on banks and in beds exactly where so few plants will grow – in those dry, shady places beneath trees. The long stems twine together, with a single plant covering up to 12 feet across, rooting as it goes. Up a tree, over a fence or on a structure it could grow even larger. Forming an impenetrable mat, it keeps out weeds, looks great all year, and takes the heat of the South without a care. It’s a lesson in how to thrive in adversity, and a great plant for new gardeners, growing well even if neglected.

What is Asiatic Jasmine Like?

Asiatic Jasmine, Trachelospermum asiaticum, isn’t really a jasmine at all, but the white and yellow star-shaped flowers sure smell like jasmine and look like jasmine too. It does come from Japan and Korea, so that part is true. It grows long, reddish-brown, slender trailing stems that run across the ground, or twine up fences or trees. It is widely grown in the South as ground-cover. The leaves are leathery and oval, about 2 inches long, and a rich, glossy green. In colder weather they turn bright red to deep burgundy red, giving a striking wintery look to your beds. Asiatic Jasmine is fast growing, so in no time at all that ugly spot will be a carpet of green. In spring, in areas with cool winters, flower buds open all across the plant. The white and yellow blooms have pinwheel flowers that fill the air with a rich perfume – delightful.

How Do You Grow Asiatic Jasmine?

Asiatic Jasmine is hardy from zone 7 to 9. It grows anywhere, from full sun through partial shade and even in full shade. It grows in any old soil at all, as long as it is well-drained, but if you can dig the soil a bit first, and add some peat or compost, it is going to love you and grow better and faster. Water regularly when young, but after that it’s drought resistant too. Don’t worry about pests or diseases – it won’t – and deer usually leave it alone. If you want to grow a carpet quickly, space our big, bushy plants 18 inches apart for rapid results.

Buying Asiatic Jasmine from the Tree Center

The best holiday gifts can be practical too, and we promise that whoever you give Asiatic Jasmine too will thank you for such a great gift. So will your own garden if it’s so lucky. The big, full pots we have are a great start to create a great groundcover, but order now – they will soon all be gone.