Winter Jasmine

Family

Oleaceae (Jamine family)

Origin

China

Description

Winter jasmine is a medium-sized, fountain-like, deciduous shrub, valued for its cheery, bright yellow flowers, which appear on bare stems ('nudiflorum' means 'naked flower'). In its native China, winter jasmine is often called 'Yingchun' which means 'flower that welcomes spring'. It grows up to 4 feet tall. If it is grown as a vine, it will reach a height of 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. It has long arching branches and willowy stems.

The hardiest of the jasmines, unlike others its blooms are unscented, bright yellow tubular or funnel-shaped blooms appear, as early as January or February,.before the leaves have emerged. They are typically the first flowers to bloom in the landscape. The shrub makes a dense green mound during the summer. This plant roots easily where arching branches touch the soil. The leaves are opposite and have trifoliate leaflets. The stems are square and green. If fruits occur, they are two-lobed blackberries.

Environment

Winter Jasmine prefers full sun to partial shade. It will grow in heavy shade, but the flowers will be reduced. It prefers well-drained soils, but it is adaptable to a variety of soil types and does well in poor soils. The cane-like, rapid growth creates colonies that look messy if unpruned. It can be rejuvenated by severe pruning after flowering.

If growing against a wall or fence, train the stems up a trellis or wires, and prune regularly to prevent bald patches appearing. Otherwise grow it over a low hanging wall or in a large pot, where its stems can trail over the sides, to beautiful effect.

Landscape Use

Consider the Winter Jasmine for mass plantings as a ground cover for slopes or banks. It may be used on a terrace or stone walls as a trailing vine. Training the vine to grow on a trellis, pergolas, or support structure will add interest to the late winter landscape.