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Trachelospermum asiaticum
Asiatic Jasmine
East Asia (Japan, Korea, eastern China, Vietnam, Laos, India)
Overview
Trachelospermum asiaticum is an evergreen groundcover or twining vine reaching 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) tall as a groundcover, or 20-30 feet (6-9 m) tall when allowed to climb. Plants spread by trailing stems that root at the nodes. Stems are slender and produce milky white sap when cut. Opposite glossy ovate to elliptic leaves are 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long and 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) wide, dark green when mature; new growth emerges bronze to red-bronze and matures to dark green within 4-6 weeks. Small white to pale yellow tubular flowers 0.5-0.75 inches (1.3-2 cm) across with five propeller-like petals appear in late spring on mature plants 5+ years old; flowering is uncommon on younger or repeatedly mowed groundcover plantings. Hardy to zone 7b (5°F / -15°C); foliage damages below 10°F (-12°C) and may die back to ground at 0°F (-18°C). Tolerates heavy shade to full sun; foliage develops a denser habit and brighter bronze winter color in full sun. All plant parts contain toxic alkaloids and cardiac glycosides; sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Outcompetes common lawn weeds once established; full coverage in mass plantings takes 18-24 months from 4-inch (10 cm) liners at 18-inch (45 cm) spacing.
Native Range
Native to East Asia from Japan and Korea through eastern China, extending south to Vietnam, Laos, and India. Occurs as an understory groundcover and climbing vine in mixed broadleaf-evergreen forests at 500-3,000 feet (150-900 m) elevation.Suggested Uses
Used as an evergreen lawn replacement and groundcover under trees and along walkways, planted at 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart in zones 7b-10. Trained on fences, posts, and trellises as a climbing vine, requiring 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) initial tying and supports for the first growing season. Grown in 1-3 gallon (4-11 L) hanging baskets and containers where trailing stems cascade 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) over container edges by year 2.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 30'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
May through June in zones 8-10 on mature plants 5+ years old; bloom uncommon on groundcover plantings due to repeated mowing. Individual flowers last 4-7 days; total bloom period when flowering occurs spans 2-3 weeks. Flowers are mildly fragrant. Bloom does not occur on plants under heavy shade below 2 hours of direct sun per day.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale yellowFoliage Description
glossy dark green; bronze winter tints in sunGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water weekly during the first growing season; established plants tolerate 3-4 weeks without rain in zones 7b-10. Apply 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of organic mulch in spring on new plantings to suppress weeds during establishment. Mow at 3-4 inch (7.5-10 cm) height annually in spring to maintain dense low coverage in turf-replacement settings; mowing damages flowering but increases stem density. Mealybugs and scale develop on stressed plants in shaded, poorly ventilated sites; horticultural oil applications reduce populations within 4-6 weeks. Container plants in pots smaller than 3 gallons (11 L) become rootbound within 2 years and require trimming or repotting.Pruning
Mow or shear annually in early spring to 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) for groundcover plantings; mowing produces dense low coverage but eliminates flower bud production. Trim trailing stems escaping bed edges monthly during the growing season. Hard renewal pruning by mowing to 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) every 4-5 years restores patchy or thinning groundcover; full regrowth takes one growing season. Climbing vine plantings on supports require annual thinning of crossing stems and tip-pinching to encourage branching.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons