Is it truly fragrant?

Yes, it has a very strong, sweet, and pleasant scent.

Does it need a trellis?

It benefits from support if you want it to climb, but it can also grow as a groundcover.

Plant guide

Star jasmine.

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Pronounced tra-kee-loh-SPER-mum jaz-min-OY-deez

Also known as Chinese star-jessamine, Confederate Jasmine, Confederate-jessamine, Hairy star jasmine, Star jasmine, Star-jasmine or Confederate-jasmine, star-jasmine

Star jasmine is a lovely, fragrant vine that brings a touch of elegance to any garden. It is famous for its sweet smelling white flowers that bloom in late spring and summer. You will love how it climbs fences or acts as a lush ground cover.

Another photo of Star jasmine — Photo by Lewis (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen vine
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 10 to 20 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 7 to 10
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to help your vine thrive. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal that the plant is getting too much water. Prune it back after the main flowering season to keep it tidy and encourage more blooms next year.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems immediately after the spring flowering period ends.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots begin to circle the pot.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -10 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: The milky sap can cause skin irritation upon contact.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: Keep children away from the stems as the milky sap is a potential irritant if touched or ingested.
Contact allergens: The milky latex sap may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The strongly scented flowers may trigger allergic reactions in those sensitive to heavy floral perfumes.
Edibility: The plant is not for consumption and may cause digestive upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Glossy dark green evergreen leaves
Star shaped white fragrant flowers
Twining woody vine stems
Opposite leaf arrangement on stems

Height: 3 to 9m
Spread: 1.5 to 3m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: white, cream, 2 to 3cm

Problems to watch for

MealybugsCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
Sooty MoldCommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, layering
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, provide a thick layer of mulch around the base to protect roots. If grown in a container, move it to a sheltered location or unheated garage during extreme freezes.
In containers: It grows well in large pots with a minimum size of 40 centimeters to accommodate its vigorous root system.

Semi-hardwood cuttings

1. Take 10 centimeter cuttings in late summer.
2. Remove lower leaves and dip the base in rooting hormone.
3. Insert into a moist, well draining potting mix.
4. Cover with a plastic bag to maintain humidity.
5. Keep in bright, indirect light until rooted.

Plant near a seating area to fully enjoy the evening fragrance.

Grows well with

Clematis · They share similar light and moisture needs while providing contrasting flower shapes.
Lavender · The contrasting foliage textures and colors look lovely together.

Similar species

Star Jasmine Variegata · It is a variegated cultivar with the same growth habit.

Science

Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Trachelospermum
Order: Gentianales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern and Southeastern Asia
Conservation: This species is not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in forest margins and thickets where it uses its twining stems to reach sunlight.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths
Uses: groundcover, climbing vine, container plant, scented garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it truly fragrant?: Yes, it has a very strong, sweet, and pleasant scent.
Does it need a trellis?: It benefits from support if you want it to climb, but it can also grow as a groundcover.

Where the name comes from

The name Trachelospermum comes from the Greek words for neck and seed, referring to the shape of the seeds, while jasminoides means jasmine like.

Good to know

Despite the name, it is not a true jasmine.
It is a member of the dogbane family.
The flowers are star shaped.
It can be trained to cover fences or walls quickly.

Keep your star jasmine growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.