Care for an Arabian Jasmine Plant in an East Coast Winter

General Culture

• Care of Arabian jasmine and its cultivars is constant throughout USDA zones, whether grown indoors or out. Full sun, southern exposure and evenly moist, light soils with large amounts of organic matter are preferred. Hot, humid days and cool nights are ideal, but frost will kill this tropical plant. Individual flowers, varying from single forms to fully double, are borne on new wood and last only a day or two. But the year-round blooms emit intense fragrance. From spring through fall, fertilize monthly with a light application of all-purpose fertilizer. During winter, eliminate fertilizer and reduce watering and keep the plant slightly dry. Prune as necessary to maintain desired shape and size.

Zone 7 and Colder

• From the middle of the Eastern Seaboard northward, including Boston and Washington, D.C., Arabian jasmine cannot survive winter outdoors. Planting outside for summer is not recommended; the shock of annual transplanting would be difficult to overcome. A large terra-cotta pot provides ideal aeration to help prevent overly wet soil. Move plant inside in fall before temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. In spring, move it back into fresh air when temperatures rise above that point. Always make the change as gradual as possible. Larger plants do best with longer periods of adjustment.

Zones 8 and 9

• In mid-Atlantic states in coastal USDA zones 8 and 9, Arabian jasmine may be root hardy in typical winters, if protected. Stems will be killed and the plant will die back to the ground. Coming back from the roots the following year, it will not bear blooms until August or September. Plants should be mulched heavily in fall to reduce fluctuations in soil temperatures and prevent the premature emergence of tender shoots in spring. Any time temperatures dip, be prepared to protect foliage. In containers, handle in the same manner as colder zones.

Zone 10 and Warmer

• In the southern-most regions of the East Coast, Arabian jasmine finds a climate well-suited to growing in the ground. Even so, many people still prefer to grow the plant in containers. In the event a dip in temperatures could harm its foliage and blooms, a quick move inside solves the issue. In addition, Arabian jasmine may be invasive when used in landscape plantings in frost-free zones. In tropical climates, Arabian jasmine retains its foliage and everblooming qualities, filling the air with the scent of fragrant blossoms.