Jasmine can bring fragrance and elegant flowers to a garden, but choosing the wrong type is an easy way to end up disappointed. Some jasmines are vigorous summer-flowering climbers with sweetly scented white blooms. Winter jasmine is a hardy shrub with yellow flowers and little fragrance. Other types are tender plants suited to a conservatory or warm indoor room.
Before deciding where to plant one, check the scientific name on the label. The different types need very different levels of winter protection and support.
Choose summer, winter or indoor jasmine
Common jasmine, Jasminum officinale, is a climbing plant that produces fragrant flowers in summer. It can become vigorous and needs enough space and support to spread. It suits a warm, sheltered position.
Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, is usually grown for bright yellow flowers on bare stems in colder months. It is hardier and has a scrambling, shrubby habit. Despite the common name, its flowers are not notably fragrant.
Tender jasmines such as Jasminum polyanthum are often sold for indoor flowering. They may fill a conservatory with perfume but cannot simply be planted outside and forgotten through a typical British winter.
Where should jasmine grow?
Summer jasmine prefers a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, freely draining soil. A wall or sturdy trellis can provide support and a little protection from wind, although the plant still needs adequate space for its roots.
Winter jasmine tolerates sun or partial shade and can be grown as a shrub, trained against a wall or allowed to spread over a bank. Its stems don't climb by themselves in quite the same way as a twining vine, so they need tying in if you want an upright display.
Indoor jasmine should receive bright light suited to its variety and enough air movement without cold draughts. A hot radiator immediately below the pot may dry the compost too quickly.
When to plant jasmine in the UK
Spring or autumn generally suits planting hardy outdoor summer jasmine, provided the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged. Winter jasmine can be planted in the dormant season when soil conditions allow.
Dig a hole wider than the rootball and loosen the surrounding ground. Set the plant at approximately the same depth it grew in its nursery pot, firm gently and water it well.
If your soil is heavy, improve its structure and drainage before planting. A new jasmine needs moisture while establishing but should not sit with roots permanently submerged.
Training jasmine on a trellis
Climbing jasmine needs a secure framework. Put wires or a substantial trellis in place before the stems become tangled. Guide young shoots gently and attach them with soft ties, leaving space for stems to thicken.
Check the eventual size of your variety. A vigorous summer jasmine can overwhelm a small, fragile decorative trellis and may need regular trimming to stay within bounds.
Spread the main shoots over the available area rather than allowing them to form a tight bundle in one corner. Evenly trained stems produce a more attractive display and leave room for air movement.
Can jasmine grow in a container?
Yes. Many types can be grown in a large pot, although vigorous climbers may eventually outgrow a modest container. Use peat-free multipurpose compost, suitable drainage and a stable pot.
Provide a support if the plant climbs, and check watering more often during warm spells. A container standing in direct sun can dry rapidly while a heavy leafy climber uses substantial moisture.
In exposed, cold gardens, a pot gives you the option of moving a less hardy plant under protection. Bear in mind that roots in containers are more exposed to freezing than those in the open ground.
How often should jasmine be watered?
Newly planted jasmine needs regular attention during dry weather until its roots establish. Established hardy plants in suitable soil are less demanding, although a long summer drought can limit growth and flowering.
Water the root area thoroughly when needed, then let excess drain. Check container compost beneath the surface. Avoid both repeated drought and permanent saturation.
Tender indoor jasmines have different seasonal needs from hardy outdoor shrubs. Follow the variety's guidance and reduce watering if a plant has entered a resting period, while avoiding complete dehydration.
Mulching hardy garden plants with well-rotted compost can help retain moisture and reduce weed competition, but keep thick wet mulch away from the stem base.
Feeding and encouraging flowers
A plant growing in good garden soil often needs limited additional feeding. Container-grown jasmine may benefit from a suitable fertiliser during active growth, used according to the label.
Light is important for flowering. A summer jasmine in deep shade may develop plenty of foliage with relatively few blooms. Excessive nitrogen feeding can make the imbalance worse.
Don't expect winter jasmine to flower at the same time as common jasmine. If you have bought winter jasmine for its yellow winter display, a lack of scented summer flowers is normal, not a cultivation failure.
When should jasmine be pruned?
Pruning depends on the type and flowering season. Summer-flowering jasmine is often pruned after flowering to keep it within bounds and encourage healthy new shoots. Winter jasmine generally benefits from trimming after its winter or early-spring display.
Cut out dead, damaged or tangled stems using clean secateurs. Reduce overly long shoots to suitable side branches or strong buds, without stripping away the whole framework unnecessarily.
An overgrown summer or winter jasmine can be cut back hard, but flowering may take two or three years to recover. Check cultivar-specific advice before cutting hard into mature wood.
Propagating jasmine from cuttings
Jasmine can be propagated from cuttings, but timing depends on the type. For hardy outdoor jasmines, the RHS recommends hardwood cuttings in winter. Tender greenhouse jasmines are better propagated from softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring or summer. Remove lower leaves and insert the prepared stems into lightly moist, free-draining propagation compost.
Keep cuttings sheltered in bright conditions out of strong direct sun while roots form. Maintain enough humidity to reduce wilting but ventilate covers so the compost doesn't remain permanently wet.
Once rooted, pot the new plants individually and grow them on before planting outdoors. Tender varieties need the same winter protection as their parent plants.
Why isn't my jasmine flowering?
Start by confirming which jasmine you own and when it should flower. The most common explanations include insufficient sunlight, inappropriate pruning and a plant that is still establishing.
A summer-flowering vine repeatedly cut back just before its normal flowering season may never produce the display you expect. A winter jasmine planted for scent will also disappoint because fragrance isn't its main feature.
If a plant has become weak or yellow, inspect drainage, moisture, light and possible pests. Adding more feed without understanding the problem may make it worse.
Common problems and winter protection
Brown leaves after cold weather: A less hardy variety may have suffered frost damage. Check whether live buds remain and move vulnerable container plants into shelter.
Stem growth without flowers: Review variety, pruning season and light levels.
Wilting in wet soil: Poor drainage or root problems may be involved. Avoid automatically adding more water.
Aphids or other pests: Inspect soft new shoots regularly and follow suitable garden or indoor pest guidance.
Choosing your first jasmine
If you want summer fragrance beside a sunny fence, choose a suitable hardy common jasmine with strong support. If you want cheerful winter colour, plant winter jasmine. If you only have a bright conservatory, a tender scented type may be ideal.
Once you have the right plant in the right place, watering, training and pruning become much more manageable.
Source
Royal Horticultural Society: How to Grow Jasmine.