How to Care for Cape Jasmine

Cape jasmine is a mainstay in Southern gardens. Most varieties are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 8 through 10, but a few cultivars, such as Chuck Haynes, tolerate winter temperatures as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit. An attractive and intensely fragrant shrub, cape jasmine is ideal for planting near entryways, porches, decks and outdoor seating where people like to congregate. The shrub looks good even when the flowers aren’t in bloom, with deeply colored, glossy foliage that stays green year round.

Mulch
Fertilizer
Horticultural oil or insecticide
Blankets
Hand pruners

Instructions

- 1
  Provide at least 1 inch of water a week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Keep water off the foliage and flowers as much as possible by applying it directly to the soil or using drip irrigation.
- 2
  Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch over the roots. This helps keep the roots cool in the heat of summer, reduces the number of weeds that emerge and helps the soil retain moisture.
- 3
  Use a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants according to the package instructions, in early spring and again when the shrub has finished blooming. Cape jasmines need a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.0, and a fertilizer for acid-loving plants helps keep the pH in the proper range.
- 4
  Clip out faded blossoms using hand pruners. Cape jasmines don’t need intensive pruning, but you can remove wayward or unattractive branches when you remove the flowers.
- 5
  Watch for signs of mealybugs and whiteflies. These insects are attracted to cape jasmines and can devastate the shrubs. If you find these insects, use a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap according to the package instructions.
- 6
  Protect cape jasmines from hard freezes by throwing blankets over them.

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