Posted by John Minton | Posted in Jasmine | Posted on 31-01-2011
Tags: False Jasmine, Fragrant, Jasmine, Shrub, Star Jasmine, Vine, White Flowers
Your common “Star Jasmine” might actually be a variation of the Trachelospermum jasminoides “Jasmine” plant, trachelospermum asiaticum. The core differences between the two is the asiatic variety has yellow around the hole in the center in the shape of a star and smaller leaves than the regular trachelospermum. The trachelospermum typically produces flowers more often and in greater quantities than the asiatic variety. In my opinion they smell identical.
Trachelospermum & Trachelospermum Asiaticum can be propagated via Layering. Layering Star Jasmine is simple! Take a long branch of the plant, just barley break the skin of the branch with a knife, remove the leaves in the area and bury that area in dirt leaving the end of the branch above ground. If you are having trouble keeping the branch from springs up out of the dirt you can place a rock on the top, that seams to work pretty well. The knife wound should eventually grow roots, in which you are them free to sever that branch from the rest of the plant. I’ve heard of people putting some root hormone powder on the knife wound, but it’s not necessary though it might speed up the rooting process.
You can encourage blooming the following year by pruning Trachelospermum & Trachelospermum Asiaticum Star Jasmines. If you simply cut the ends of the branches after the flowering season they will grow more branches at the closest axil!
Notice these differences between Trachelospermum & Trachelospermum Asiaticum in the pictures.
Flower of the Trachelospermum Asiaticum Jasmine, notice how there is yellow around the center of the flower, and the pedals do not curve towards then ends. The leaves are slightly smaller than the Trachelospermum. Also sometimes called Yellow Star Jasmine.
Flower of the Trachelospermum Asiaticum Jasmine. This is an awesome shot where you can clearly see the yellow star in the midst of the flower. Click on the image to view full size.
Flower of the Trachelospermum Jasmine, Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine. Notice the small amount of yellow in the center of the flower differs from the Asiatic variety, but completely white flower pedals that are slightly curved over towards the ends of the flower.
Trachelospermum, Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine
When I was around 11 years old my mom had some in her backyard. I remember the warm days of summer with open doors, the scent of Star Jasmine wafting through the house and playing Super Mario World on the SNES. Star Jasmine makes the Summer a special time for me.
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I’d like to point out that some times even nursery’s will say that the Asiatic Jasmine (also called “Asian Jasmine”) does not bloom, but it does bloom and I assume it needs very specific conditions to do so.
I do wonder what conditions will allow it to bloom more often, I’ll have to research.
Upon further research, there are different varieties of the Asiatic Star Jasmine. There is a variation that does not flower known as ‘Ogon’. From ‘Garden plants of Japan’ By Ran Levy-Yamamori, Ran Levy & Gerard Taaffe (Page 286)-
Trachelospermum Asiaticum ‘Ogon’: A cultivar with attractive yellow-green variegated leaves. Does not flower.
Trachelospermum Asiaticum ‘Hatsuyuki’: A popular variegated cultivar that grows best in full sun or dappled shade. Frequently used as a ground cover. Leaves variously variegated cream and pink, ovate to linear-lanceolate, with whitish green stripes. New growth tinged pink to bronze.
Trachelospermum Asiaticum ‘Variegatum’: Similar to ‘Hatsuyuki’.