Star Jasmine is an evergreen, hardy vine with an intoxicating scent. It is this smell that earned it the nickname "false jasmine" since if its flowers resemble those of jasmine, it is not! From its Latin name, trachelospermum jasminoide , star jasmine is in fact a much more robust shrub , which allows it to be grown in all our regions, even the coldest.

We give you all the secrets to growing this precious flower native to the subtropics of South Africa and Asia at home!

Maintenance sheet

Bloom

The star jasmine flowers in summer, from May to August . Its magnificent five-branched flowers spread a sweet fragrance that will enchant your summer evenings and delight your guests. When winter comes, its intense green foliage can take on pretty brown or even orange tones depending on temperature and exposure.

Exposure

Star jasmine needs light and sun although it can also tolerate partial shade. If you plan to climb it, position it on a south or west facing wall . Also place it sheltered from wind and draughts.

watering

The earth dries out quickly during the summer , when the Jasmine flowers, watch its water supply, about twice a month is enough. In winter, almost stop watering and place wedges under the pot to facilitate drainage.

Planting or repotting

The star jasmine is a plant made for the exterior since it is often used to cover fences and walls. You can therefore plant it directly in the ground . It can also do well on a balcony or even indoors , in which case plan a large pot or tray to anticipate its growth.

Prefer spring or autumn to repot it, in order to avoid strong heat and winter frost.  

Diseases and pests:

The sworn enemies of star jasmine are mites , especially scale insects and aphids . Better to act quickly too, to fight them better, remove by hand the first ones that point the tip of their nose.  

• Consequences: Mealybugs have small brown shells, they attack the branches of Jasmine and weaken it. As for aphids, it is on the flower buds that they congregate, the leaves then roll up on themselves and become shiny and sticky.  
• Solution: These small sap-sucking insects called mealybugs can kill your plant but are easily treated with an insecticide. For aphids , a spray of black soap diluted in water can get rid of them.  

How to repot a Star Jasmine?

If you plant it in your garden, make sure that the soil remains cool in summer , despite a south or west exposure, avoiding calcareous or acidic soils which will dull its foliage.

Dig a hole about 50cm in diameter and deep, taking care to sufficiently hydrate the roots of your shrub and its nourishing soil. Arrange them well at the bottom, add compost to the soil before filling and tamp.  

In the ground or in a pot, make sure there is good drainage to prevent it from undergoing untimely swimming, which it dreads above all else. To do this place gravel in the bottom of the hole or clay balls in the bottom of the pot, which will facilitate the flow of the overflow.  

How to make your star jasmine climb well?

To ensure the beautiful growth of your jasmine, stake it as soon as you plant it. Yvette, our superb star jasmine is delivered on its stake.

If you want to grow it on another support, you will have to lead the stems yourself from the planting, taking care to spread them over the entire width. Fix them using a little raffia without tightening too much so as not to break or damage the stems. Remember to wear gloves as the sap of star jasmine contains skin-irritating white latex.

For your star jasmine to grow, do not hesitate to prune it maximum once a year in winter. In the spring, if your jasmine is in the ground, give it two good shovelfuls of compost to renew the stock of organic matter in the soil. If it is in a pot, remember to repot it by bringing it new soil rich in nutrients and changing the pot to a larger one if necessary.

POUSSE, the plant architecture agency that reconnects your spaces in Lyon, Paris and Bordeaux to nature.
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