Are Star Jasmine Flowers Annuals or Perennials?

Climate

• Star jasmine is sometimes called Confederate jasmine, although it originated in China rather than the South. It grows as a vigorous vine that can climb up tree trunks or other supports, reaching heights of 20 feet or more. Its outdoor range includes U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, where winter temperatures can fall below freezing for brief periods. Although sub-freezing temperatures that last for a day or two can cause dieback of foliage and branches, the plant generally survives these brief periods of cold and returns with new growth in spring.

Use As An Annual

• Star jasmine is a fast-growing plant that can grow 3 to 6 feet in a single season and does well grown as an annual in regions that are colder than USDA zone 8. It grows quickly in a spot that gets full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade for a few hours each day. Giving the plant organically rich soil also produces the best growth and supports good flower production. You can enhance your soil's fertility by amending it with compost at planting. Star jasmine also needs well-drained soil, so if your soil is high in clay, add some sand at planting to improve its drainage. Watering regularly encourages formation of deep roots, which also helps spur growth of vines and flowers.

Indoor Growing

• A star jasmine can also do well as a houseplant, potted in a container or allowed to trail from a hanging basket. A variegated variety (Trachelospermum jasminoides "Variegata") makes an especially useful houseplant that provides interesting foliage in addition to fragrant flowers. The best indoor spot for the plant is one that gets at least four hours of bright light daily, such as a west- or south-facing window. You can move a houseplant outdoors for the warm months, but expose it to sun gradually, adding an hour or two each day, to prevent scorching from strong sun. Move the plant indoors in fall, when temperatures drop below about 50 degrees, and protect it from cold drafts near doors and windows.

Other Care

• Star jasmine is generally disease- and pest-free, but can be susceptible to Japanese beetles when grown outdoors. These pests can be hand-picked, or you can use traps purchased at a garden center to remove them. Outdoor-grown star jasmine uses its aerial roots to climb trees, sometimes to great heights. Ensure its vines don't expand and climb into trees that are near a house or other structure, since this can make trees top heavy and subject to damage or breakage during wind storms. You can prune back the plant in early spring, cutting back each vine by one-third to one-half, to control its growth.