Plant of the Month

Jasminum Polyanthum (Chinese Jasmine)

Jasminum polyanthum (also known as Chinese jasmine), is an evergreen, twining climber from China. It produces a abundance of pinkish-white star shaped flowers and grows in full sun to semi-shade. The flowers have a sweet scent and are late-winter to early-spring borne. It does not suffer much pest and disease problems and is easy to grow.

Get one for your garden today!

PLANT CARE

Choose your planting site for your climber carefully: its long flexible stems may need some shelter, but planting right next to a wall might keep it from the sun or water it needs. Make sure that there's room for the climber to grow when it gets tall, and remember that it will grow towards the sun unless carefully trained. Be sure you will be able to manage the plant once it becomes tall, or that if it has a mind of its own, it won't become a problem.

Select a support structure before you plant your climber. Common support structures are trellises, wires, strings, or existing structures. Do not use permanent ties; the plant will quickly outgrow them. Use soft, flexible ties. Make sure that your support structure is strong, rust-proof, and will last the life of the plant. Anchor your support structure before you plant your climber. Dig a hole large enough for the root ball.

Plant the climber at the same level it was in the container. Fill the hole with soil, firming as you, and water well. As soon as the stems are long enough to reach their support structure, gently and loosely tie them as necessary. If planting in a container, follow the same guidelines. Plan ahead by adding a trellis to the pot, especially if the container will not be positioned where a support for the vine is not readily available.

Planting Jasmine

The beautifully scented flowers of the jasmine makes it an ideal choice to grow near the front door on a trellis or over a pergola.

When planting your newly purchased Chinese jasmine, dig in plenty of organic matter and place the roots 30cm from the base of the wall. Spread a layer of mulch around the root area to help retain moisture.

If your creeper has been planted under the eaves of the house where rain does not reach it, remember to water it during the rainy season. Remember not to tie the sideshoots too tightly to the trellis - always allow for thickening of the stems as the plant mature.