Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Star Jasmine
Star jasmine is an evergreen vine with small white, star-shaped flowers and a sweet scent each spring. Tie it to a trellis, fence or arbor and it climbs, or leave it loose and it spreads as a low groundcover. It does best on the east or north side of the house, with morning sun and afternoon shade. Plant it by a patio, entry or walk so you catch the fragrance.
Best for: trellises, fences and arbors on the east or north side, groundcover in shaded beds, and spots by a patio or entry where the spring scent reaches you.
With a support it can reach 20 to 25 feet. It twines, so it needs a trellis, wires, an arbor or chain link, and new stems need guiding at first.
Left loose, it stays about 1 to 3 feet tall and spreads wide. Plant 2 to 3 feet apart for full cover under trees or in a shaded bed.
The white spring flowers are very fragrant. A trellis or bed beside a patio, entry or walk puts the scent where people spend time.
Hot afternoon sun on a west or reflected side burns the leaves and cuts flowering. It cannot grab a flat wall on its own. Alkaline soil can turn new leaves yellow.
- Plant to plant3-4 ft apart
- Fence, wall or trellis3-4 ft apart
- Groundcover, full cover2-3 ft apart
Water every other day through the first summer. Once rooted, water about twice a week in summer on drip, and less often in the cooler months.
Set up a trellis, wires, an arbor or chain link before planting. Guide and tie new stems to it until it takes hold.
Trim right after flowering to shape it. Wear gloves and long sleeves, because the milky sap can irritate skin.
Keep it out of hot afternoon sun and reflected heat, where the leaves burn. Yellow new leaves point to alkaline soil, since it prefers neutral to slightly acid soil.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is star jasmine a vine or a groundcover?
It can be either one. It is a twining vine that climbs 20 to 25 feet with a trellis or fence. Without support it trails along the ground and stays about 1 to 3 feet tall.
Is star jasmine a true jasmine?
No. It is not a true jasmine, though the scent is similar. It is also sold as Confederate jasmine.
Where should I plant star jasmine in Phoenix?
Give it morning sun and afternoon shade, such as an east or north wall or a spot under a light tree canopy. Keep it off hot west walls and reflected heat. In deep shade it flowers less.
Does star jasmine climb a wall on its own?
No. It twines and cannot grab a flat wall. Put up a trellis, wires, an arbor or chain link, and guide new stems onto it.
How far apart should I plant it?
About 3 to 4 feet apart along a fence, wall or trellis. For groundcover, 2 to 3 feet apart gives full cover. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for you.
Which size should I buy?
Pick the 5 Gallon Staked for a trellis or fence, since it is ready to guide up. Use 1 or 5 Gallon plants for groundcover beds, and the 15 Gallon to cover more fence sooner. The size guide on this page describes each one.
How often should I water it?
Water every other day through the first summer. Once rooted, about twice a week in summer on drip is enough, with less in the cooler months.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from spring into early summer with small white, star-shaped flowers. The scent is sweet and strong, and bees visit the flowers. Plant it by a patio or entry so you catch the scent.
How cold can star jasmine take?
It handles cold down to about 10 to 15°F, so it keeps its leaves through Valley winters.
When should I prune it?
Prune right after it finishes flowering. Wear gloves and long sleeves, because the milky sap can irritate skin.
Is star jasmine poisonous to dogs or cats?
It is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The milky sap from cut stems can irritate skin, so wear gloves when you trim it.
Why are my star jasmine leaves turning yellow?
Yellow new leaves are common in alkaline desert soil, because star jasmine prefers neutral to slightly acid soil. Give it regular water and keep it out of hot afternoon sun, where the leaves burn.
Star Jasmine for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Star jasmine is an evergreen vine that climbs with support or spreads as a groundcover without it. Below is how it grows in the Valley. It covers sizes, where to plant it, support, water, bloom, cold, pruning and yellow leaves.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Is star jasmine a vine or a shrub?
It is a twining vine. With a trellis, fence or arbor it climbs 20 to 25 feet. Without support it trails as a groundcover about 1 to 3 feet tall.
Where does star jasmine grow best in Phoenix?
On the east or north side, with morning sun and afternoon shade, or under a light tree canopy. Hot west sun and reflected heat burn the leaves and cut flowering.
How far apart do you plant star jasmine?
About 3 to 4 feet apart along a fence, wall or trellis. For groundcover, 2 to 3 feet apart. The Spacing tab on this page works out the count.
How do you get star jasmine to climb?
It twines but cannot grab a flat wall. Give it a trellis, wires, an arbor or chain link, and guide and tie the new stems until they take hold.
How often do you water star jasmine in Arizona?
Every other day through the first summer. Once rooted, about twice a week in summer on drip, and less often in the cooler months.
Is star jasmine cold hardy in the Valley?
Yes. It handles cold down to about 10 to 15°F and keeps its leaves through winter.
Star jasmine vs true jasmine
Star jasmine is not a true jasmine, though the sweet scent is close. It is also sold as Confederate jasmine. It blooms in spring into early summer.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.