Trachelospermum Jasminoides: The Beautiful Star Jasmine Climber

Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine

Growing Trachelospermum jasminoides: The Perfect Evergreen Star Jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides, known as star jasmine or confederate jasmine, is a true gem in the garden. This versatile evergreen climber combines year-round interest with its glossy, dark green leaves and an unforgettable summer display of intensely fragrant, star-shaped white flowers. Star jasmine is a reliable and elegant choice whether you’re looking to soften a wall, cover a pergola, or add structure to a patio container.

Its heady scent rivals true jasmine’s, yet it’s far hardier and easier to manage in most UK gardens. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about growing Trachelospermum jasminoides successfully — from choosing the correct location and preparing the soil, to training, pruning, and protecting your plant during colder months. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, star jasmine is a plant that rewards you generously with beauty and perfume year after year.

What is Trachelospermum jasminoides?

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is an elegant, evergreen climber that brings beauty and fragrance to the garden. While it’s often grouped with true jasmines due to its name and scent, it belongs to a different plant family — Apocynaceae — and is more closely related to oleander and periwinkle. Still, its fragrant white blooms and twining growth habit make it a worthy alternative for those who love the romantic charm of jasmine.

This versatile climber is native to East and Southeast Asia and grows in warm, sheltered environments. In UK gardens, it’s prized for its showy, sweetly scented flowers, which appear in abundance from late spring into early summer, and its lush, glossy foliage. The leaves are a deep green in summer, providing a striking backdrop for the flowers, and take on attractive bronze, copper, or even reddish tones in colder months.

Because it’s evergreen, Trachelospermum jasminoides offers interest all year round, making it an excellent choice for adding structure and greenery to vertical spaces. Whether you’re looking to soften a wall, disguise a fence, or bring life to a pergola, this climber delivers a winning combination of beauty, fragrance, and year-round appeal.

How Do I Plant Star Jasmine?

To get the best from your Trachelospermum jasminoides, choose a warm, sheltered spot — ideally against a south or west-facing wall or fence. Star jasmine thrives in full sun, producing the most flowers, but it will also tolerate light or dappled shade, especially in hotter parts of the UK.

Good drainage is key. While star jasmine enjoys moisture, it dislikes sitting in wet soil, particularly in winter. Prepare your planting area by digging in plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost. This will improve drainage and enrich the soil, giving your plant the nutrients it needs to establish strong roots.

Dig a hole twice the width of the rootball and just as deep. Gently tease out the roots if they’re circling the pot, then position the plant at the same depth as in the container. Backfill with soil, firm it in gently, and water thoroughly.

If planting near a wall, position the rootball about 30 cm away from the base to avoid the dry rain shadow zone. Add a sturdy support such as a trellis, wire frame, or obelisk, and begin tying in the young stems as they grow. This will help the plant climb and establish a strong framework.

What Growing Conditions Does It Need?

Star jasmine thrives in well-drained soil in full sun or semi-shade, ideally in a warm and sheltered spot. It’s happiest when its roots are cool and shaded, but its foliage and flowers can bask in the sun. A south- or west-facing wall offers protection and the warmth needed to bring out the best of its blooms.

While it’s more cold-tolerant than many evergreen climbers, star jasmine can still suffer in prolonged frosts or exposed, windy sites. In colder regions or frost pockets, it’s best to grow it in a large container that can be moved into a sheltered spot, greenhouse, or conservatory during the worst winter weather. Alternatively, plant it against a warm wall where the microclimate can help shield it from temperature extremes.

Avoid planting in heavy clay or poorly drained soil, which can lead to root rot, especially in winter. If your garden has heavier soil, improve drainage by adding horticultural grit and organic matter, or opt for a raised bed or large pot with good drainage holes.

Once established, star jasmine is relatively drought-tolerant, but young plants need consistent moisture in their first few seasons to get going. With the right conditions, it will reward you with vigorous growth, glossy evergreen foliage, and an unforgettable scent each summer.

How Do I Train Star Jasmine?

Provide strong support for the twining stems, such as a trellis, horizontal wires, or a sturdy pergola. Star jasmine naturally climbs by twining around supports rather than clinging, so guiding young shoots early on is essential. Fan them across the structure to encourage even coverage and a balanced, attractive shape.

Regular tying-in with soft garden twine will help direct growth and prevent the plant from becoming tangled or top-heavy. The plant becomes woody and self-supporting as it matures, but training in the early years is key to a tidy and manageable display.

Trim back stems in late summer or early autumn to keep the plant within its space and prevent it from overwhelming neighbouring plants or windows. Light pruning also encourages bushier growth and more flowers the following season. Remove any damaged or wayward stems to maintain a neat and healthy framework.

With consistent training, star jasmine becomes a stunning, fragrant green wall that brings structure and beauty to your garden all year round.

Can I Grow It in Containers?

Star jasmine makes a stunning addition to a scented patio garden, where its glossy foliage and fragrant blooms can be enjoyed up close. Choose a large container with good drainage holes and fill it with a loam-based compost like John Innes No.2, which retains moisture while providing essential nutrients and stability for long-term growth.

Add crocks or gravel at the pot’s base to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging. Position your container in a sunny, sheltered spot—ideally near a wall or trellis where the plant can climb. Regular watering is key, especially during dry spells, and a monthly liquid feed during the growing season will keep your star jasmine healthy and flowering.

In colder regions, container-grown plants should be moved to a protected area in winter, such as a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory, or sheltered porch. You can also wrap the pot in horticultural fleece or bubble wrap to protect the roots from freezing. With the proper care, star jasmine in containers can bring year-round structure and summer scent to even the smallest outdoor space.

What About Winter Care?

The evergreen foliage turns deep red and bronze in autumn and winter, adding seasonal interest and colour to the garden even when little else is in flower. This seasonal transformation gives star jasmine year-round appeal, making it a reliable feature in beds, borders, and containers.

However, while mature plants can tolerate light frosts, young or newly planted specimens are more vulnerable to cold. It’s wise to provide extra winter protection in exposed or colder areas. Apply a thick mulch of composted bark or well-rotted manure around the base of the plant to insulate the roots. During cold snaps, you can cover the lower stems with horticultural fleece to guard against frost damage.

For container-grown plants, raise pots off the ground using pot feet and move them to a sheltered spot, such as next to a house wall, where residual warmth offers extra protection. Wrapping containers in fleece or bubble wrap will help prevent the compost from freezing. With just a little care, star jasmine will come through winter unscathed and bounce back beautifully in spring.

How Big Will It Grow?

The ultimate height and spread of Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) depend on the growing conditions, climate, and the support structure you provide. In ideal conditions with a warm, sheltered, and sunny position, it can reach 6–9 metres (20–30 feet) in height and spread over several metres. It climbs by twining, so a trellis, arch, pergola, or wall with wires will help guide and support its growth.

Regular pruning is key to keeping it neat, especially if growing in a more confined space. You can trim it lightly after flowering to maintain its shape and size. Don’t be afraid to prune more heavily in early spring if needed—Trachelospermum jasminoides responds well to a good tidy-up.

Growth will be noticeably slower in containers than in open ground, so if you’re short on space or growing on a patio, a pot is a great choice to keep it manageable. Make sure the pot is large enough and has good drainage, and feed and water regularly to support healthy development. Even in containers, this evergreen climber will reward you with its glossy green leaves, scented summer flowers, and neat, stylish structure.

Is It High Maintenance?

Once it has settled into its growing spot, Trachelospermum jasminoides is refreshingly low-maintenance. As an evergreen woody climber, it’s resilient and reliable, making it a fantastic choice for gardeners seeking beauty without constant upkeep.

During its first year, you’ll need to water regularly to help establish strong roots. Once mature, it becomes more drought-tolerant, though it will still benefit from consistent moisture during prolonged dry spells. Occasional feeding—especially in spring and summer—using a balanced, slow-release fertiliser or liquid feed will keep the foliage lush and support flower production.

Annual pruning is recommended and best done in late spring or just after flowering in summer. This helps maintain a tidy shape, keeps growth in check, and encourages a fresh flush of fragrant blooms the following year. Cut back any wayward shoots or overgrown areas to your desired size, and remove dead or damaged stems.

It’s also worth checking in occasionally to ensure that climbing stems stay securely attached to their support. Tie in new shoots if needed, especially when training it up trellises, arches or walls. With these light touches of care, Trachelospermum jasminoides will reward you with year-round structure and masses of sweetly scented white flowers in summer, all with minimal fuss.

I’ve grown Trachelospermum jasminoides in my garden for years, and it’s genuinely one of my favourite climbers. There’s something magical about stepping into the garden on a warm summer evening and being greeted by that rich, sweet scent—it fills the air without being overpowering. I have trained up a south-facing wall, where it gets plenty of sun and shelter, and every summer it rewards me with a curtain of white flowers and glossy evergreen leaves that stay beautiful all year. What I love most is how little effort it takes once established—just the occasional tidy-up and a feed in spring. If you’re looking for a plant that brings structure, scent, and seasonal colour with minimal fuss, I can’t recommend star jasmine enough. It’s a true joy to grow.

Key Points to Remember:

• Evergreen climber with glossy foliage
• Highly fragrant white flowers
• Needs well-drained soil
• Prefers a sheltered position
• Suitable for containers
• Winter protection is needed in cold areas
• Regular pruning maintains shape
• Flowers late spring to summer
• Foliage changes colour seasonally
• Perfect for patios and walls

Check out the RHS article here.

For more information on climbing plants for your garden, please click here.

Curious about another great variety? Take a look at Trachelospermum jasminoides Star of Toscana

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Trachelospermum Jasminoides?

Q: How should I grow my Star Jasmine?

Q: Can I grow Star Jasmine in a pot?

Q: What type of soil is best for Trachelospermum Jasminoides?

Q: Will my Star Jasmine turn bronze in winter?

Q: How can I protect my Star Jasmine over winter?

Q: Where can I buy a Trachelospermum Jasminoides for my garden?

A: You can buy jasmine from online retailers or local garden centres. Look for mature options in a 3-litre pot for a good start.