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Confederate Jasmine

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Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) also known as Star Jasmine is not a true jasmine but referred to as one because of the fragrant jasmine-like flowers it produces. It is hardy in zones 8-10 and ubiquitous in the southern states. Cultivar Madison is hardy up to zone 7.

The twining foliage emerges with light green lance-shaped leaves and then matures to a glossy, dark green color which produces clusters of white star-shaped flowers in late spring to summer. Once established, this fast growing evergreen vine, which can grow up to 20 feet, can be trained to climb supports such as fences, pergolas, pillar and trees. With tip pinching and trimming, it can also be grown as a spreading shrub or a weed choking groundcover. Its tight growing habit also makes it an ideal candidate for topiaries, trailing containers and hanging baskets.

confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

Confederate jasmine prefers fertile well-drained soil with full sun to part shade exposure. Fertilize from early spring to fall with a well balanced (NPK) fertilizer.

Pruning is important to control excessive growth and thicken the foliage. Prune straggly and tangled vine grown indoors in the fall/winter when growth has stopped and/or after blooming to promote lateral branching. Because C. jasmine blooms on last year’s growth, the best time to prune outdoor plants is after blooming (April-May). Prune away dead, cold damaged shoots in late winter after danger of frost is over. The semi-hardwood cuttings dipped in rooting hormone can be propagated in the spring/summer to produce additional plants. Cuttings exude a white milky sap which can be a skin irritant.

Indoor culture
Trachelospermum jasminoides tolerates a minimum temperature of 40 degrees and therefore in colder climates needs to be grown in a container and brought indoors for the winter. As a houseplant, they can adapt to moderate light exposure as well as neglectful watering but grow best in bright indirect light in the summer and need a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight in the winter. Night temperatures of 50-55 and 68-72 during the day are preferred. In the winter provide added humidity but water less.
Another cultivar, Trachelospermum asiaticum cv mandianum, Asiatic Jasmine is also a popular container plant. It has smaller, oval leaves and sweeter yellowish white flowers with a longer blooming time which can start(depending on temperatures) early to mid-winter to the summer.
Ref. Clemson.edu & Logee’s Container Plants


Buy Jasmine Plant with snow-white flowers and exotic perfume midwinter


Jasmine, Angelwing

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41 Comments on Confederate Jasmine»

  1. I want to plant Confederate Jasmine instead of laying down that red bark. Does Confederate Jasmine do well in Ft. Lauderdale, (South Florida) If so when and how should I plant it?

    Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasmoides) is a shrubby plant that can be used along walls,fences as well as a ground cover under trees. It does well in Florida. Plant it in acid soil in full sun for best flowering but will also grow in partial shade. Keep the soil moderately moist but not wet until plant is well established. Because it has a spreading habit space it 36-60 inches apart. The dark glossy foliage and fragrant white flowers make Confederate Jasmine an attractive ground cover to grow.

    Comment by Haynie — 1/15/2006 @ 3:02 pm

  2. Wonderful forum for gardeners. We have friends in VA Beach, who have a jasmine growing near their back door, it bloomed the first year it was planted 5 years ago and never again. I have the same problem here in Northern AL. It is a white flower, so I have been calling it Confederate Jasmine. Theirs have a lot of sun and have grown to a height of 10 ft. trellised. Mine is only about 2 years old and about 3 ft. high. What are we doing wrong? The foliage looks very healthy.

    You might consider the kind of fertilizer you are using, too much nitrogen will give you nice green growth but no flowers. Try an acid loving blooming fertilizer eg: 10-20-10 (the middle number phosphorous higher than the first number(nitrogen).

    Comment by Kris — 1/15/2006 @ 3:06 pm

  3. I have had my 3 plants for over 20 years and they bloom all but 2 weeks every year, they are in a 10′’ pot and I water every 3-4 days—reg

    That is fabulous! Please share your secrets with us!

    Comment by reg. champ — 1/15/2006 @ 7:17 pm

  4. I’m a new gardener from SE Kansas (do not know what zone!). I’m very excited about a Star Jasmine that I just bought. It is about 5 feet. I’ve found a little information, but would really like to be successful at this, so any tips would be great!!

    Star jasmine is also known as Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). It is hardy in zone 8-11.You are in zone 6? It likes full sun/part shade. Can grown as a vine on a trellis or ground cover. There are also upright standard specimens a result of lots of planned pruning. Likes acidic soil, moisture and humidity. You can prune it after flowering to maintain its shape. In cooler climates(North) they should be grown in tubs or containers and brought indoors for the winter.

    Comment by Barbara Baugher — 1/16/2006 @ 7:31 am

  5. Thank you for the response! I do not understand the hardy in zone 8-11, yet I am not in that zone. Is that why I have to bring it in during the winter? Could you tell me a little more about how to prune and to keep the soil acidic? Like I said, I’m really new to gardening! Thank you!

    You are probably in zone 6 (-10-0 degrees) and that means that the winter temperatures get too cold for your plant to survive. Hardiness is the ability of the plant to withstand cold temperatures. To winter over prune back any long stems to make the plant more managable . Put the plant in the brightest spot in the house, keep the soil uniformly moist and provide humidity . It will loose some of its leaves with low light and lack of humidity. The whole goal is to have the plant survive the indoor winter. To maintain acidic soil, use a fertilizer that is specifically made for acid loving plants. Fertilize in the spring when the plant start to show signs of new growth

    Comment by Barbara Baugher — 1/16/2006 @ 7:36 am

  6. I have a star jasmine that I have brought in for the winter. It is losing most of its leaves. Do I correct this by misting, and how often should I mist. Also, I don’t have a good window, but I do have a vertical, portable plant light. Should I use that, and how much? Do I continue using acidic fertilizer through the winter, and what about using bloom boost with it? Thanx for any help, I’d really like to save this plant!

    Hi Barbara,
    Welcome back, Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is probably dropping its leaves because of low light and lack of humidity. The plant light might help as they need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Use a pebble tray filled with water to increase the humidity. Misting can help a bit but will not make a significant difference. Water it less in the winter and stop fertilizing until early spring when the plant starts growing again. Prune unsightly stems in the winter when it stops growing.

    Comment by Barbara Baugher — 1/16/2006 @ 7:57 am

  7. 2005-7-16
    I need help also with a star Jasmine! It had nice white flowers when I initally bought it 3 months ago and now there is none and it is loosing it’s leaves by the handful!!! Before the leaves fall off the tips get like a dark brown. Do they normally shed their leaves? I have it in a south window and I live in WI. What can I do??

    Brown leaf tips and edges have several causes underwatering,too hot surface, low humidity and low light, . My best suggestion is to put your plant outside in part shade for the rest of the summer. You might have to ease your plant into the new environment since it’s been in the house. Watch the watering; give it enough water(don’t let it dry out) and don’t let the roots stand in water. Your Jasmine will enjoy the vacation outdoors and be a much healthier plant, ready to endure the indoors during the winter

    Comment by Jennifer — 1/16/2006 @ 8:25 am

  8. I have a confederate jasmine that is in the ground and 8 years old.It has made seeds that look like snap beans in the past 2 weeks.This is the first time this has happened.Do you know anything about this.

    It has reached a mature stage to produce seeds. When the seed pod is ripe it will split open and the seed is dispersed via a little parachute(like the ones on a dandelion seed).

    Comment by Chris — 1/16/2006 @ 8:30 am

  9. Hello, I’m new to this forum, and have been searching for information on what I am experiencing with my jasmine plant. It is indoors, with lots of light, in a cold climate. It has developped a mold on all it’s leaves. It is white and powdery. Any suggestions? Also, when we water it, the water runs straight through, we were told not to soak it, but I feel like it’s not even getting a moderate watering. Thanks

    Sounds like you have powdery mildew on your leaves. It is a airborne fungus that thrives under certain environmental conditions-cool nights, high humidity. See the article on powdery mildew for treatment-baking soda or Neem Oil. I wouldn’t worry about the watering, it is better to have good drainage than roots sitting in water. The plants require less water in the winter.

    Comment by Tara — 2/5/2006 @ 9:35 am

  10. I have never grown or planted anything ever. I am wanting ti do 2 trelles of Jasmine and then jasmine all over the ground in a specific area of my yard. (almost in a circular area) What other flowers do well planted with Jasmine? Also how fo I do it? Do I just dig a home and put it in? Or do I add potting soil to the area? I am so clueless to all of this I really want to do this so I am completely willing to learn from all of you! I live in Arizona Phoenix area. Thanks any help will be greatly appreciated.

    Jasmine is not a common plant to grow in AZ, because of the dry, hot weather. It requires moist well-drained soil and should be planted in the shade to do well in AZ. To maintain it as a ground cover be sure to trim the upward growing tips during the season. When planting jasmine amend the soil with compost and be sure to dig a hole larger than the pot and keep the plant at the same soil level that was in the pot…not too deep or too high.

    Comment by Jessie — 3/12/2006 @ 9:37 pm

  11. I have a jasmine vine that is strangling an oak tree in my yard. In order to save the tree we were told to cut it down (which my husband is doing as I type). I want to replant it along the fence to let it climb. How do you replant a vine??

    Dig up as much of the roots ball as you possibly can and plant it along the fence. You will have to trim the jasmine in order for it to be managable to move. In addition, trimming will also help the plant recover from the shock of root loss. After transplanting ,water it well with a plant starter such as Quick Start. It contains a rooting hormone, fertilizer & vitamins which help the plant recover faster.

    Comment by Tricia — 3/16/2006 @ 2:00 pm

  12. I have 2 jasmine plants for about 4 years it is out door in my front yard.
    I live in orlando. The problem is only the flower buds turns into black or brown in colour and they get dried and falls of even before they bloom and all the buds are small in size. I used some pest control it works for one week and every week i need to spray it i am tired of it. i don’t see any bugs. The plant is healthy it has lot of leaves and i prune it regularly and fertilize it.
    Please someone give me an idea on how to get more flowers to bloom in my front yard without dried flower buds.

    There is a blossom blight that affects Jasmine. It starts with brown spots that eventually get larger and darker. This is caused by a fungus when the weather is cool and wet. Clean away all debris at the base of the plant (sanitation) and spray with a fungicide. Don’t spray the plants directly with water.

    2006-6-1
    Mary
    Hi,
    This is my first garden so bear with me. About three weeks ago I planted 3 confederate jasmine vines along my backyard fence. I bought them from a reputable nursery. Two of them are thriving and growing like crazy already, while the third one is not doing well at all. It’s leaves are green but all the flowers are heavily drooping downward and the flowers turn brown and fall off before they open. They are all on the same water schedule and they get plenty of sun. What can I do to nurse it back to health? Please help!!

    Rapid change in temperatures such as too warm at night, too hot, and dry weather will cause bud blast in which the flowers will droop and turn brown. It is an indicator that the plant is in a stressful condition. Other factors that can cause bud blast are excess fertilizer, inadequate light exposure and overhead watering (which is what I suspect). Perhaps your stressed jasmine has been exposed to one of the factors.

    Comment by Kaavi — 4/5/2006 @ 4:31 am

  13. I have 3 star jasmine plants (approximately 4′ tall ea.) that I purchased and planted along a west wall (outside) approximately 1 month ago. They were beautiful, blooming, healthy plants and stayed that way for about 2 weeks. The leaves are slowly browning and the blooms are almost completely gone. They get plenty of water, and the weather hasn’t been too warm here in AZ…yet. I was hoping to acclimate and establish the plants before our very hot summer is upon us. Do rabbits, lizards or mice eat jasmine plants? I have petunias planted nearby and the tops have been eaten by one of the 3 mentioned. We’ve seen all in our yard at one time or another. Is there anything I can do to save these plants which look as if they are being chewed on at their base? Thank you for any advice.

    Jasmine have a difficult time growing in hot climates. They are not a common plant in AZ. Rabbits are fond of jasmine. Try spraying a repellant such as REPEL around the base of your plants. Another option is to make a cylinder of hardware cloth and place it around the trunk with the lower end inserted 1 inch below the soil surface. Kris

    Comment by Lynda — 4/13/2006 @ 4:01 pm

  14. I went looking for bedding plants at a local Lowe’s (close to Memphis, TN) and walked by this wonderful smelling plant and I had to have it. There were a few areas of no leaves, but the flower looked healty. I brought it home and potted it in a patio container. I love it! But…..the leaves show some white stuff on them. I thought it could be the cholrine in the water that the store had watered the plant with. It is easly wiped off. Could my plant be diseased? How should I treat it, if you think so? Also, if you repot a plant in a potting soil that states it has feeder for 4 months and water controll ingredients, but states nothing about acidity, should I add additional acid.

    When buying plants don’t be fooled by nice looking flowers be sure the plant is healthy. The flower is short lived but a healthy plant will give you flowers throughout the season. It doesn’t sound like your plant is diseased, the white stuff may just be residue from sprays used in the greenhouse. At this point it should be fine in the soil unless it shows signs of yellowing leaves, then you can use a specially formulated fertilizer for acid loving plants.

    Comment by Peggy Cooper — 4/17/2006 @ 12:31 am

  15. I have had the Confederate Jasmine for 5years…I probably live in one of the most powerful zones for this plant which is just north of Mobile, Al..it blooms on and off all year…it on the south wall in front of the house…it has started taking over my front porch…we have never trimmed it back..it is in bloom now…if I trim it back now will it kill it off??

    Prune your plant after it is done blooming. Cut back any weak, damaged, and overcrowded growth but don’t remove more than one third of the vine each year.

    Comment by Charlotte — 5/13/2006 @ 6:18 am

  16. I am planning on planting some confederate jasmine along my fence for privacy. How far apart should I plant them and where can I find them? I live in central Fla.

    Confederate jasmine can grow 4-5 feet wide and up to 2 ft tall, therefore I would recommend you plant it 4 feet apart. Check you local nursery for availability.

    Donna ( nana431965@hotmail.com / )
    I have a 12 1/2 foot x 3 1/2 wide trellis that I would like to plant confederate jasmine on. My questions are; will it cover the trellis and how many plants would you suggest using? I live in zone 8, south Alabama. We have a 2 1/2 acre yard and trying to do something on a grand scale so as not to have a bunch of small gardens.
    It gets about 2 hours of sun in the morning and about 1 hour sun in evening.
    Ivy for sure is not the way to go as we have spent quiet a few $$ on these plants only for them to die.Please help me as this is where I would love to have my wedding(one day) !
    Thanks for any advice,

    The recommended spacing is about 36-60 inches, some plant them as close as 2 ft apart. I would plant 2 plants which should fill in nicely in no time. They are hardy in zone 8.

    Comment by Mindy Kelly — 6/5/2006 @ 4:32 am

  17. I want to know if i can cut pieces from my confederate jasmine and root them and have more vines .please let me know thank you sarah parker

    When you prune you can use the semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring/summer to produce additional plants.
    Dip them in rooting hormone (Rootone) and place light well-drained soil or peat pots and keep moist.

    2006-7-1 @ 2:07:04 pm
    sarahparker ( nana10171957@yahoo.com / )
    hi i just put some cuttings from my confederate jasmine and when will they have the roots on them .and should i leave them out like on the porch are should i keep them in side i got them in the pump house now .so please let me know which is the best thing to do .in side are out side .sarah parker

    I would leave them outdoors in a protected ( shaded porch) enviornment until they root. Be sure to keep the cuttings in a humid climate and moist (not wet) soil. As to how long it should take? My guess would be 6-8 weeks depending on conditions if you dip the cuttings in rooting hormone it should take less time to root.

    marion sorel ( Flasheey@aol.com / )
    Hi There My friend gave me some cuttings of confederate jasmine. I have them int he bucket with water and I live in Central Florida. I have them in my screen room Do I plant in potting soil int he garden or leave int he water to root. What is the best way to be sure they start growing and stay healthy. Thank you

    Best time to root Confederate jasmine is in summer/early fall. Use semi-hardwood cuttings 4-6 inches long, strip off the bottom leaves, dip the bottom 1/3 stem in rooting hormone and pot in a soil mix of peat/sand and perlite. Place pot in a plastic bag to create a greenhouse-opening periodicaly. If humid and warm weather you won’t need to keep in plastic bag. Place the cuttings in a shaded spot such as a porch or screened room. If you have extra cuttings, -some have had success rooting in water. Softwood tip cutting should be rooted in early summer. When the cuttings are rooted, let them grow until they have a good root system one season) before transplanting in garden soil.

    Comment by sarahparker — 6/9/2006 @ 2:41 pm

  18. I have a confederate jasmine outside it was very large and climbing a trellis. After the winter I was disappointed to see that it had died. It was so lush and beautiful. It turned entirely brown and twiggy. Not a green leaf anywhere. Imagine my surprise today to see new green growth and one white bloom. What do I do now???

    Good for you! Give it a well balanced fertilizer to encourage more growth and be sure it gets enough water. Watch it grow.

    Comment by Jennifer — 6/24/2006 @ 1:10 pm

  19. Hello,I have 6 Confederate Jasmine growing on a trellis in my back yard that have been my pride and joy every spring.This year they bloomed as usual but now one of them has lost most of its leaves and the ones that are left are a bright red!!This has never happened in the 6 years we have had them. We live in coastal North Carolina and it has been a very hot summer so far.Do you think that is the reason for what has happened and what can I do to help them??
    Thank you for any help you can give

    It is a response to stress from the hot weather. They tend to turn red later in the season.

    Comment by Melinda Burbage — 7/24/2006 @ 11:33 am

  20. I have two confederate jasmine plants about 2 omnths old. they are really doing well and have grown immensely since I planted them. Today I noticed that one of them has developed some fungus-looking hairy-like growth on the vines. Both are planted in full sun. Only one of them has this stuff on it. Do you know what it is and how do I get rid of it?

    It’s hard to tell what is growing on the vines. If it is white cottony “stuff” in the leaf axils and stems, it may be mealy bug and can eventually spread to the other plant. Look in the mealy bug article for treatment.

    Comment by K Waluk — 7/30/2006 @ 12:24 pm

  21. I planted some jasmine next to my fence, some have climbed the fence with one shoot but should I cut them off so it will fill the fence or how do you get it to fill a fence?

    Frequent tip pinching and pruning will encourage new side shoots and thicker growth.

    Stacy T ( sartaelle@yahoo.com / )
    I live in Austin, Texas and I have 3 star Jasmine vines that I am trying to coax into covering an iron fence on my condo’s patio. The plants seem healthy in color, and bloom, however, in two years their growth has sparse - reaching maybe two high and not very dense. My neighbors next door have the same type of Star Jasmine, but planted it many years ago, and they said their vines covered the fence in two years and now they have trouble controlling it’s dense growth. I am wondering what I can do to encourage that type of growth in my own vines.

    There are all kinds of factors that can affect a plants growth rate. If your plants are healthy and just off to a slow start, fertilize them in the spring to give them a jumpstart. The amount of light your Jasmines are exposed to can be slightly different and make a difference. As long as they are healthy and blooming I wouldn’t worry. Some plant are slow to start and once established will take off. Pinch back some of the growing tips during the season and that will encourage a denser growth and maintain a moist well-drained soil.

    Comment by Melinda Kelly — 8/26/2006 @ 8:13 pm

  22. I live in the high desert of So.Calif. I planted Confederate Jasmine on the south side of the house. It get’s full sun until late afternoon, is watered weekly. I am seeing white and brown spots on the leaves, lighter color in the leaves, and no bloom on the plant. It is growing, but there is a problem, and i don’t know what it is. This is my first Jasmine

    Confederate Jasmine are relatively disease free. The white and brown spots can indicate a leaf spot. Overhead watering and splashing water can aggravate the problem. Sanitation, removing infected leaves will help control the spread. If you have an extension office nearby or nursery, take a sample in to identify the problem. Lighter color can be a sign of lack of nutrients , which will also affect blooming. Make a note of wheather the new leaves or old ones are lighter.

    Comment by S. Safford — 9/4/2006 @ 11:55 pm

  23. I was given a new Jasmine plant about 4 weeks ago. It had lot flower buds, but only two matured and opened, all the others just dried and dropped off. Today I noticed a very fine web on in it in two places with lots of tiny dots moving on it. How can I best look after this plant and keep it alive, and get rid of the insects on it? I live in NY and the plant is in my office. Thank you.

    It sounds as if your Jasmine may have spider mites. To check for spider mites, take a white sheet of paper and strike a leaf on the paper and if you see small moving dots, then you have spider mites. There are several ways to treat spider mites, the best recommended remedy is to use Neem Oi, by Dyna-gro which smothers both the adult and eggs without damaging the plant. Use 1 oz. (2TBL) of Neem to 1 1/2 tsp of dishwashing detergent to 1 gal of water. Spray the plant generously, especially the underside of the leaves and then apply a second dose 5-7 days later. Jasmine prefer full to partial sun, well-drained soil and added humidity indoors in the winter.

    Comment by Judy — 10/17/2006 @ 3:20 am

  24. We live in zone 8 / Dallas area. We’ve had 3 days of Frost in december and my star Jasmine vine (about 15 feet or more) has now turned brown - branches and leaves. This vine has been around for 4 years and did very well. It is the 1st time this has happened. I’ve not seen a single green leaf on the main branches. I do see some green leaves at the very bottom - very few. I’ve pruned it back to 1/3 its size and fertilized it. Please advise if I need to prune more or should I give up on this.

    Now that its early spring and new growth is emerging, prune your jasmine up to the green growth. Get rid of the damaged and dead shoots. It sounds like it still has some life in the roots. Easy on the fertilizer, wait till you have good growth.

    Comment by Kris — 11/26/2006 @ 1:26 pm

  25. My two year old jasmine (unsure variety) made it through the winter - it is the large, glossy leaf variety. It is in a container on the north side of our home in Portland, Oregon. I am noticing that new growth has a red edge, and some red dots on the leaves. I can’t see any bugs, but wonder if this is something I should take action about or if it is simply eary growth?

    It could be a leaf spot caused by a fungus. There are a couple leaf spot diseases that occur in the spring. To verify, take a sample to your local nursery or extension office. You may have to treat it with a fungicide.

    Comment by Robin — 4/5/2007 @ 11:38 pm

  26. I live in the state of FLorida and have a jasmine growing up a tree. It is quite large and I haven’t trimmed it for about a year. Since I planted it, it hasn’t produced many flowers. This year the flowers bloom and turn brown and die right away. The foliage on the plant are green and healthly and it gets plenty of water. Should I try to put a blooming fertilizer on the plant?

    This can be weather related; a rapid change in temperatures such as too warm at night, too hot, and dry weather will cause bud blast which causes the flowers droop and turn brown. Other factors that can cause bud blast are excess fertilizer, inadequate light exposure and overhead watering There is also a blossom blight caused by a fungus(Phoma) that affects Jasmine. It starts with brown spots that eventually get larger and darker. This is caused by a fungus when the weather is cool and wet. Clean away all debris at the base of the plant (sanitation) and spray with a fungicide

    Comment by Terrie White — 5/22/2007 @ 7:02 pm

  27. Hello, I’m glad I found this forum. I’m new to gardening but learning quickly. I recently bought 2 pots of star jasmine each about 3 feet high. I want to use it as a screen for privacy in my garden and I plan to have it cover a trellis on the fence (optimal height about 7 feet). How long will I have to wait before it reaches at least that height. It is said that jasmine is a fast grower but what is ‘fast’? Also I live in Vancouver, BC and last winter was harsh(for BC), will it be able to withstand and tolerate -5 C temps well? Thank you!

    I am assuming the your are referring to Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) which is a moderate to fast grower once established. The vines can get up to 20 ft and spread 4-5 ft. wide and can be pruned(after flowering) to fit your needs. The amount of time it will take to reach optimum height depends on how well its growing. It may take 2 years to fill in your fence. Jasmine is hardy in zone 8-10(min temp 10F) and some cultivars zone 7. It should be able to tolerate temperatures of -5C (23F).

    Comment by J K Ho — 6/24/2007 @ 3:41 pm

  28. Hi, I am new to this site and I find it very helpful. I live in NYC (Queens area) and I recently bought a beautiful jasmine tree, not sure if it is a confederate, though. I put it near a big window facing south. Few days after we had it at home it was all flowers and the smell was just wonderful. Then we had to leave for few days and my nanny decided to put it on a metal tray covered with plastic. When we got home all the flowers were gone and it started loosing all the leaves. We had very hot days recently and we the AC on but it was not blowing cold air against the plant. Since we came back the jasmine is getting worse by the minute. After reading some of your posts, i decided to remove the plastic and leave it on top of newspapers but elevated 1/2 inch with some pieces of wood. Am I doing things right?
    Please help, I love that jasmine!!!
    Thanks! Benny

    Your jasmine is reacting to the new environment. The flowers will last longer if they aren’t exposed to bright direct hot light. Try moving it to an East window if possible or anywhere with bright filtered light. The best thing you can do is to place it outdoors in a semi-shaded(morning sun) area for the summer. It loves humidity and warm temperatures. When watering make sure the water drains freely from the bottom of the pot and then pour out the excess water. A plastic tray or anything to catch the water will do. When it starts grow, a dose of muracid or fertilizer for acid loving plant will help keep the new growth green. I have a Lakeview Jasmine tree (Murraya paniculata) and its flourishes and blooms throughout the summer on my east exposure patio. I bring it indoors in the winter and keep it thriving in bright filtered light until it’s time to go back outdoors.

    Comment by Benny — 7/12/2007 @ 7:07 pm

  29. I just bought a jasmine to plant in a container in my Orlando, FL courtyard. It came in a 10 inch container, and I’m not sure how large a pot to put it in. Does it need a lot of root space, or is it happy somewhat pot-bound? What size container would you recommend? It will be trained to a trellis.

    Unless the roots fill the pot and circling or are coming out of the holes it may not need repotting. General rule of thumb is to transplant to a container 1-2″ larger.

    Comment by Lisa C. — 10/18/2007 @ 3:55 pm

  30. Thanks for the potting advice! I planted my new jasmine in a slightly larger pot than the one it came in, using a mix of regular potting soil (a new bag) and some MiracleGro potting soil that I had on hand. This was a couple of days ago. Today I noticed that there are some kind of centipedes or caterpillars in the soil. I saw at least three of them. They are small, maybe an inch long, and brownish. Should I be concerned? What should I do about them?

    Lisa, sometimes running water on the soil surface until it drains out of the bottom will flush out the unwanted insects but if that doesn’t work try drenching the soil with an insecticidal soap solution. Follow manufacturer’s directions.

    Comment by Lisa C. — 10/21/2007 @ 10:31 am

  31. Some of the leaves of myConfederate Jasmine look like they have a white powder, but it doesn’t wipe or scratch off. What should I do for it? It’s a large, corner plant about 6′ tall. It was here when I moved in 5 years ago. I don’t have a green thumb, so I’m desperate for some advice! Thanks.

    Confederate Jasmine usually doesn’t get many foliar diseases. One possibility is powdery mildew .This will occur in spring with humid weather. It is easily treated. It may also just be a residue from the milky sap of damaged leaves. If the plant is healthy and growing then you probably have nothing to worry about.

    Tara
    Hello, I’m new to this forum, and have been searching for information on what I am experiencing with my jasmine plant. It is indoors, with lots of light, in a cold climate. It has developped a mold on all it’s leaves. It is white and powdery. Any suggestions? Also, when we water it, the water runs straight through, we were told not to soak it, but I feel like it’s not even getting a moderate watering. Thanks

    Sounds like you have powdery mildew on your leaves. It is a airborne fungus that thrives under certain environmental conditions-cool nights, high humidity. See the article on powdery mildew for treatment-baking soda or Neem Oil. I wouldn’t worry about the watering, it is better to have good drainage than roots sitting in water. The plants require less water in the winter.

    Comment by Jenny Cunningham — 10/27/2007 @ 6:09 pm

  32. Hi, Great site!

    I have three Jasmine plants that we planted last spring. They did really well through the summer until just recently when two of the three have had their leaves turn bright red and all the leaves are now falling off. A prior poster had similar issue and you said it was in response to hot weather, but it has not been hot - it is fall! Is this just a typical autumn color show? The third plant’s leaves have red spots on them, but as of yet have not gone fully red like the others.
    Thanks for any advice!

    Temperature is a major factor in color change, some confederate jasmines are known to take on a red color in the fall. As for the spots on the leaves- it may be a leaf spot. My best suggestion is to take a leaf to your local extension office.

    Comment by Melissa A — 11/6/2007 @ 4:29 pm

  33. I live in North Florida and I have about 10 confederate jasmine plants that I planted at the beginning of the year. However about a month ago the leaves started turning dark RED and then brown. All of my plants look like this. I water then regulary and they still look alive but why RED and brown leaves?

    It’s not unusual for the leaves to turn red in the fall/winter. It’s possible that cold weather is causing the leaves to brown. They should sprout new growth in the spring.

    Comment by mARGOT RICHMOND — 12/18/2007 @ 8:52 am

  34. I have a Jasmine plant (I do not know exactly what type it is)It is planted in an urn and is on my Lanai in Naples Florida. It gets the sun most of the day and it appears to be doing alright except that the buds that are on the plant do not open up (there are a lot of them) They have not fallen off they’re just starting to turn a yellow color. The plant looks healthy , the leaves are shinny and look good but the buds do not. I looked on the underside of the leaves and notice on some not all, little black dots that do not move. I don’t know if these dots are bugs or whatever. Can you help?

    Are you spraying the plant when you water?

    Comment by joe — 1/11/2008 @ 2:47 pm

  35. Regarding your answer to my problem comment [1/11/08] I am not spraying the plant when I water. My plant is in a bucket and I water it at the bottom of the plant. I usuall water it about 2-3 times a week.

    Comment by joe — 1/14/2008 @ 3:00 pm

  36. I live near the beach in Southern California. We have two Confederate Jasmine plants in containers that have both done well for the past 4 years. My husband and I disagree on one aspect of pruning. Our plants sometimes have thin shoots that are several feet long with very minimal leaf/bud growth on them. I think we should cut these back. My husband prefers to keep them and wrap them around our trellis. We both think our methods will produce a thicker plant in the long run. Which is the better method? Thanks!

    Jasmine can send out long shoots when they are reaching out for more light. I cut my thin vines back for the winter and now the plant is sending out lots of new lateral growth. Cutting back after flowering as well as tip pinching during the growing season will give you a bushier and fuller plant and will help control the length of the vine. They can growth up to 20 ft, so maybe a little pruning wouldn’t hurt. Your method is better.

    Comment by Melinda — 3/22/2008 @ 2:38 pm

  37. can u plant star jasmine as a ground cover around ruffle azaleas. I live in florida and i hate keeping the mulch looking fresh and thought i could maybe use the jasmine for the cover instead.

    Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) can grow as a ground cover. It will be 1 1/2 -2 ft. tall with tip-pinching and trimming and spread 4-5 ft. wide.
    source:Clemson.edu

    Comment by Suzanne — 3/30/2008 @ 3:21 pm

  38. I planted 20 star jasmine plants outdoors in central coastal florida two months ago. all are growing ok but on several the leaves of new growth are yellowish. have fertilized with time-release osmocote and several weeks ago added ironite. what’s happening?

    Sounds like an iron defiency - which will affect new growth. Chlorosis is indicated by interveinal yellowing on young leaves. It takes a few weeks for the jasmine to respond to ironite. You may want to give it another dose. Chelated iron is also another form of iron that is readily absorbable by the plant and should respond in a week. If your plants are not responding to the treatment then there may be a problem with the roots system being unable to take in the nutrients.

    Comment by gary — 4/22/2008 @ 12:26 pm

  39. I have added additional ironite as you suggested but a local nursery suggested adding magnesium. I know this is acceptable for palms but I am hesitant since I have found most of the nurseries in this area are fairly ignorant and often shoot from the hip. What do you think?

    Micro nutrients such as magnesium have a tendency to leach out of the sandy soils in Florida. If you use a fertilizer that has all major elements (NPK) and including the minor nutrients such as calcium, sulfur, magnesium, zinc you will not risk having a nutrient deficiency. High potassium level in the soil will also keep magnesium from being absorbed by the roots. Low levels of magnesium are indicated by interveinal and marginal yellowing of the lower leaves and then extending to upper leaves. If you have a deficiency, an inexpensive way to treat a mangnesium deficiency is to add magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt ) to the soil. One recommended formula was - Mix 5TB epsom salt to 5 gal of water and 2 drops of liquid detergent. Spray or water the plants and see if that makes any difference. A diluted formula won’t hurt the plants, some swear by it. A soil test would be helpful but it will not indicate the minor nutrients unless you request them and that will cost $$.

    Comment by gary — 4/24/2008 @ 1:00 pm

  40. I have a star jasmine plant that has been living in my house in Colorado over the winter. Recently, it began dropping leaves and I notice that there are several yellowing leaves on the plant. There are also small, oblong brown spots (about 5 mm in length) on some leaves and branches which can be peeled off. Is this some kind of pest? Any suggestions?

    It sounds as if you have scale. Sometimes difficult to get rid of but in summer outdoors easier to control..

    Comment by Katy — 4/26/2008 @ 5:04 pm

  41. Live in Central Alabama and have a confederate jasmine planted outside that runs on a trellis. Have had it 3 years and it grew wonderfully. A few weeks ago I noticed the leaves gradually turning Reddish/Brown as tree leaves do in the fall. Then within a couple days all the leaves simply fell off the vine. This plant had new growth and flowers on the ends of many of the vines when this happened and the new growth looks OK and some still has flowers. What happened and how do I fix it?

    I’m not sure what’s going on but will research it and get back to you.

    Comment by Retta — 5/1/2008 @ 2:57 pm

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