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Chinese Star Jasmine
Take a visit to Sydney and you will see this plant everywhere. They use it to cover walls and trellises .They grow it around poles, spill it from pots, employ it as ground cover under trees and in traffic islands and cascade it over walls and out of baskets. I have never seen a plant so over used. But it is such a nice plant, such a hardy plant that I can see why it has such universal appeal.
Strictly speaking the Chinese Star Jasmine or Trachelespermum jasminoides is a climber and not related in any way to the pesky root running Jasmine climber that is invading our coastal gardens. I prefer the fragrance of the Chinese Star Jasmine. It is a lighter sweet fragrance that doesn’t give me a headache as does the true Jasmine.
Chinese Star Jasmine has thick textured dark glossy green leaves and produces only short climbing runners. That is why it is so useful as a ground cover. It quietly covers the ground instead of the galloping pace of most climbers. Pure white star shaped flowers are produced in short racemes above the leaves so the effect of this plant in full flower is breathtaking. A tumble of white blossom.
By regulary pruning wayward shoots one can grow this climber vertically up a wall tied back to supports to create a living wall only 10 cms or so thick. When the buds form in late spring only prune any upward growing shoots. Then prune all over after flowering.
This climber will grow in sun or shade but full sun is required for maximum flower production. It likes a fertile soil and will let you know when it is running out of food by changing its leaf colouring to red. This looks most attractive but is a warning to feed. Grow this climber as a container plant as well. Choose a large container so the specimen can cascade from its pot .Place close to windows or doorways so you can enjoy the fragrance it imparts all summer.
A little known relative of the Chinese Star Jasmine is Trachelespermum asiaticum from Japan and Korea. This twining climber has smaller mid green leaves with reddish tendencies. Flowers are also smaller and a creamy apricot. It is a very compact growing climber, rarely requiring pruning and particulary suited where space is at a premium.
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