Asiatic Jasmine

Asiatic Jasmine creates a glossy evergreen carpet for covering large areas, slopes, or places where turf struggles. Trachelospermum asiaticum spreads low across the ground, usually 1 to 2 feet tall, with wiry stems that can cover 10 feet or more over time. Small cream to yellow-white star flowers may appear from late spring into summer, adding a light fragrance when plants are happy. Our landscape designer uses it on slopes and under open-canopy trees as a durable groundcover instead of just covering the space with mulch. This woody vine is native to parts of China, India, Japan, and Korea. Asiatic Jasmine is fast growing, deer resistant, salt tolerant, disease resistant, and drought tolerant once established. Its twining stems can also be guided onto a low trellis, fence, planter edge, or hanging basket, giving it more range than many groundcovers. Use it for bank stabilization, border fronts, large shaded beds, warm-climate containers, or low-maintenance coverage beneath tall shrubs. Asiatic Jasmine Care Plant Asiatic Jasmine in full sun to partial shade, with part shade often best in hot southern or western exposures. It adapts to clay, loam, sand, and organic soils as long as drainage is good. Acidic to neutral soil is ideal, though it tolerates a broad pH range better than many evergreen groundcovers. Water deeply after planting and keep the soil evenly moist while new roots spread. Once established, Asiatic Jasmine needs little supplemental water except during drought or extreme heat, when wilting leaves are the cue to irrigate. Fertilize once in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer if growth is thin or the soil is poor. Avoid heavy feeding, since overly rich conditions can make the vines grow beyond their intended space. Prune Asiatic Jasmine in early spring to control edges and encourage dense coverage. In large groundcover beds, it can be mowed once a year at the highest mower setting using sharp blades. For containers or hanging baskets, trim long runners as needed and move plants indoors for winter in areas colder than Zone 7. Asiatic Jasmine Spacing Space Asiatic Jasmine 18 to 24 inches apart for solid groundcover coverage. Use wider spacing on slopes or large beds when a slower fill is acceptable. For containers or hanging baskets, choose a pot at least 14 inches wide with drainage holes, and water more often than in-ground plantings because the roots dry faster. In warm part-shade beds, let Asiatic Jasmine cover the soil beneath Indian hawthorn or cleyera shrubs, where its low foliage can handle filtered light and reduce open mulch areas. Hibiscus can stand behind it in sunnier borders, adding large seasonal flowers above the green ground layer. In containers, combine Asiatic Jasmine with coleus or elephant ears for bold foliage contrast in bright shade.