How to grow jasmine

What is jasmine?

The most widely grown species are:

• common jasmine (Jasminum officinale), a vigorous climber with small, fragrant, white flowers in summer

• winter jasmine (J. nudiflorum), a shrub with small, bright yellow (unscented) flowers in winter and early spring

• Chinese jasmine (J. polyanthum), a tender houseplant with highly fragrant, white flowers, opening from pink buds, in late winter and spring

Several other jasmines are readily available, including:

• Jasminum beesianum and J. × stephanense – climbers with fragrant pale pink flowers in summer, may not be fully hardy

• J. humile – a semi-evergreen shrub with yellow flowers in summer, may not be fully hardy, so is often grown as a wall shrub

Choosing the right jasmine

The different types of jasmine can be used in various ways:

• Climbing, summer-flowering jasmines (such as J. officinale and J. × stephanense) are ideal for covering walls and other structures, such as pergolas, trellis, archways and porches. Most need a warm, sheltered, sunny spot, and can be quite vigorous once established. Some are not fully hardy.

• Winter jasmine is ideal for brightening up gardens during the coldest months of the year, when its arching bare stems are adorned with bright yellow flowers. This tough, hardy shrub is often grown as a hedge, ground cover or trained against a wall. It is happy in most situations, in sun or partial shade.

• Chinese jasmine is usually grown as a houseplant, for its abundant, highly fragrant white flowers in late winter and spring. It can also be grown up a trellis in a conservatory, enclosed porch or heated greenhouse.

5 good reasons to plant climbers

5 good reasons to plant climbers

How and what to buy

How to choose healthy plants

How to choose healthy plants

Where to plant

Jasmines need fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. They are not all fully hardy, so some need to be grown indoors or in a very sheltered or frost-free spot – check plant labels carefully for individual requirements.

But in general:

• Plant summer jasmines (such as J. officinale and J. × stephanense) in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot. They dislike cold or frost-prone sites. They can be quite vigorous climbers once established, so need large, sturdy supports. They can be grown in containers or in the ground

• Plant winter jasmine in sun or partial shade. This tough shrub is fully hardy. It doesn’t need support, although it can be trained against a wall. It can also be grown as a hedge or ground cover

• Plant tender jasmines (such as J. polyanthum) in containers and keep indoors in a warm, bright spot. A conservatory is ideal. You can also move them outside in summer, to a warm, sheltered spot, but bring them indoors before night temperatures fall below 13–15˚C (55–59˚F)

When to plant

Jasmines are available for most of the year, and are often sold in garden centres in full flower. But as a general rule, plant:

• summer jasmine in spring or autumn

• winter jasmine in autumn and winter
   

How to plant

Jasmines are very easy to plant. They are sold in containers, ready for planting straight into borders or larger containers.

For full planting details, depending on the type of jasmine, see our guides to:

• Planting climbers 
• Planting shrubs 
• Planting in containers 
• Planting a hedge

Video guide to planting a climber

Video guide to planting a climber

Video guide to planting a shrub

Video guide to planting a shrub

Watering

• Newly planted jasmines should be watered regularly for at least their first year, until well rooted

• After that, plants in the ground shouldn't need additional watering, except during dry spells in summer

• Plants in containers need regular watering throughout the growing season, as they have little access to water

• Houseplants and glasshouse plants need regular watering while in growth, but only very light watering in winter
  
  

Feeding

• To boost flowering, feed plants growing in containers monthly with a high-potassium liquid feed (such as tomato fertiliser)

• Jasmines in the ground can be given a general-purpose, granular fertiliser such as Growmore in spring, to encourage growth. During the flowering period, you can apply a high-potassium feed, such as sulphate of potash, seaweed feed or wood ash

Mulching

With jasmines growing in the ground, apply a generous mulch of organic matter, such as well-rotted garden compost, over the area the roots are growing in during autumn.

This will help to hold moisture in the soil and deter weed germination. It will also benefit plants that are not fully hardy by insulating the roots. Leave a gap of about 7.5cm (3in) around the base, to prevent the stems rotting.

See our guide to mulching tender plants.
 

Overwintering

Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) and winter jasmine (J. nudiflorum) are hardy, so established plants should be fine outside all winter.

However, most other jasmines are not reliably hardy, so are best given winter protection or brought indoors before temperatures drop:

• Tender jasmines, such as Jasminum polyanthum, need to be kept consistently warm, above 13˚C (55˚F). So take care not to leave them outside when night-time temperatures start to drop, and even indoors avoid leaving them in a cold spot at night

• Half-hardy plants, such as J. × stephanense, are best brought indoors if growing in a container. If they're in the ground, you may choose to risk leaving them outside when they're in a warm, sheltered spot. In which case, cover the root zone with a thick, insulating mulch

See our guide to preventing winter damage.
 

Caring for older plants

Vigorous species may grow quite large over time, but can be cut back hard to rejuvenate them and keep them within bounds. See Pruning and training below.

Pruning annually will help to keep jasmine plants healthy and vigorous, with flowers lower down where their scent can be enjoyed. Pruning may also be necessary to keep them within their allotted space, and prevent the growth becoming too straggly, tangled or congested.

When pruning both summer and winter jasmine, cut back flowered stems to a strong side-shoot lower down. Also thin out any overcrowded, damaged or wayward shoots, and remove any weak or thin stems.

See our guide to pruning climbers and wall shrubs.
 

Pruning summer jasmines

• Prune just after flowering, in late summer or early autumn

• Early flushes of flowers are produced on the previous year’s growth, but later flushes form on the tips of the current year’s growth

• Pruning after flowering gives the new growth time to mature and flower early next season

Pruning winter jasmine

• Prune in spring, immediately after flowering

• Flowers are produced on the previous year’s growth

• Pruning after flowering gives the new growth time to mature and flower next season

See our guide to pruning shrubs.​

Pruning newly planted climbing jasmine

Young climbers need initial training and pruning to ensure they grow strongly and spread out evenly over their supports. See our guide to initial pruning of climbers.
​

Pruning overgrown jasmine

Both summer and winter jasmine can cope with hard pruning and renovation, if the plant has outgrown its space:

• Cut back hard to within 60cm (2ft) of the base

• Re-growth will be vigorous, so select strong shoots for training into the new framework, and remove unwanted shoots

• The plant will take two or three years to start flowering again

​See our guide to pruning overgrown climbers and renovating shrubs.

Making new plants is quite straightforward by:

• layering 
• taking cuttings

Outdoor jasmines are best propagated from hardwood cuttings taken in winter.

Tender and glasshouse jasmines do best from internodal softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in spring or summer.

Jasmines rarely produce berries in the UK, but if yours does, you can try propagating it from seed.

Jasmine is generally trouble-free, if grown in suitable conditions. Many jasmines aren't fully hardy, so may be damaged or killed by winter cold and wet. See Planting, above, for guidance.

Outdoor plants suffer few pests and diseases, although you may sometimes find aphids on tender new shoots. However, control isn't usually necessary.

When grown indoors, jasmine may attract sap-feeding pests, including: 

• mealybugs 
• red spider mites