WHAT A STAR!
I have the gentle climber Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminodes ) growing all around my garden (ten plants at last count). It is extremely hardy, and survives our Blue Mountains frosts and snowfalls without the slightest problem. In the photo below it is tumbling down a retaining wall with campanula. It tolerates shade, but flowers best in almost full sun. It doesn’t seem to require any particular soil conditions and does well in pots. The glossy leaves are a bonus.
A pretty combination.
It works well as a ground cover, too;
Tumbling over one of my woodland paths.
Of course I grow it for the fragrance, which is quite strong. Some people can’t tolerate it, although it is not considered to be allergenic. I think it’s heavenly, especially on warm summer evenings when it floats in though open windows and doors.
NIGHT PIECE
Fling wide the casements of the night
and let
The sighing breezes with star-filled
jasmine bring
Cool to the fevered world its fresh delight.
Lorette Lindsay
( Dear me, Lorette, I don’t think the world has been quite this fevered for many a day…plant more jasmine is what I say!)
Thankfully, unlike common jasmine ( Jasminum officinale) , this variety it is not invasive.
I was surprised to see little Eastern Spinebills feeding on the nectar. It must taste as sweet as it smells.
Even the cabbage moths and butterflies love to sip the flowers.
Here it is twining around Asian lilies.
A lovely combination.
Star jasmine is really easy to train against walls or lattice work. It can be used in fairly formal designs.
Star jasmine trained against a wall.
Isn’t this stunning? (Photo Turboquick)
You can have more informal fun with jasmine if you are whimsical like me.
Cute posy of star jasmine.
This weeks I have used it to make a wreath for the front door, as a welcome to the New Year. Mind you, I have had to replace the flower sprigs regularly because it has been so very hot. Be careful when cutting it, because a sticky white sap oozes out.
A heady welcome for New Year.
Beautiful Jasmine!