Asian Jasmine Care

Varieties

• Bronze Beauty grows 12 to 18 inches tall and features eye-catching leaves in shades of bronze, red and green. Texas Longleaf Asian jasmine flowers from spring to summer in zones 8 to 11.The leaves of this variety are large and dark green, and grow on branches that can reach up to 20 feet long. Space this variety 5 feet apart in the garden. Both cultivars have highly fragrant flowers.

Culture

• Asian jasmine is a tolerant plant that prefers rich soil but will grow in all but continually wet soils. The plant will grow in the shade, though it performs best planted where it will get several hours of full sun, but remains protected from extremes of heat from the afternoon sun in summer. Coastal homeowners can plant Asian jasmine without fear; the plant withstands salty air. Mature plants can withstand short periods of drought, but need to be watered if dry conditions persist for more than a few days. Space Asian jasmine plants up to 12 inches apart for a dense ground cover.

Maintenance

• Since Asian jasmine is a spreading vine, pruning is not necessary if the plant is healthy. Prune away any damaged or injured areas to allow the jasmine to recover. If the plant spreads too much, mow it down with the lawnmower. If the plant is not spreading enough, cut the plants back to about 6 inches in early spring, before new growth appears.

Tips

• Asian jasmine will happily grow and flower indoors as a houseplant if you provide several hours of bright sunlight daily. The plant does not climb, but will cascade over the sides of indoor or outdoor containers. Plant Asian jasmine in areas that suffer from erosion or in otherwise bland areas of the garden that need color. If you live outside the plant's normal growing zone, simply plant Asian jasmine in containers and bring it indoors for the winter. Although Asian jasmine resists most insect pests and diseases, scales, whiteflies and sooty mold may occasionally attack outdoor plants.