Star Jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides | Star Jasmine — Evergreen Climber with Heavenly Fragrance

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a timeless favourite for its glossy green foliage, twining habit, and masses of sweetly scented white flowers. Despite its name, it’s not a true jasmine — but its fragrance easily rivals one. Perfect for covering fences, pergolas, or trellises, this evergreen climber also makes a beautiful groundcover or container plant. Hardy, versatile, and low-maintenance, Star Jasmine thrives in South African gardens, where it rewards with year-round greenery and a spring–summer explosion of perfume.

🌿 Plant Care

Sun: Full sun to semi-shade — best flowering in full sun, but tolerates some shade.
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; thrives in loamy or sandy soil enriched with compost.
Water: Moderate — water regularly during the growing season, less in winter once established.
Fertilizer: Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser to encourage lush growth and abundant blooms.
Pruning: Trim after flowering to shape and control growth; suitable for training or clipping into hedges.
Top tip: Train early — guide young stems onto supports to create a neat, full coverage over time.

🌸 Specifications

Botanical name: Trachelospermum jasminoides
Common name: Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine
Growth habit: Evergreen, twining climber or groundcover with glossy dark-green leaves
Size: ±3–6 m H × ±2–3 m W (smaller if grown as a shrub or pot plant)
Flowers: Clusters of star-shaped, creamy-white flowers with intense jasmine fragrance; bloom mainly spring to summer
Fragrance: Strong, sweet, and lingering — especially on warm evenings
Lifespan: Long-lived perennial; hardy and reliable with minimal care
Uses: Climber for walls, fences, pergolas, and arches; also excellent as a fragrant groundcover or container plant

⚡ Quick Facts

• Evergreen and beautifully scented — blooms from spring through summer
• Versatile: climber, groundcover, or pot specimen
• Hardy, low maintenance, and ideal for sunny to semi-shaded South African gardens