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Also called Confederate jasmine, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a vine that produces highly fragrant, white blossoms that attract bees. Native to China and Japan, it does very well in California and the southern U.S., where it provides excellent ground cover and climbing decoration. Keep reading to learn about growing star jasmine vine in your garden.
Transform Your Front Yard with Gorgeous Jasmine Ground Cover
If you’re looking to enhance your home’s curb appeal, consider using jasmine as a lush, carefree ground cover in your front yard landscape With its intoxicating fragrance, colorful blooms, and versatile growth habits, jasmine makes a gorgeous addition that can completely transform the look and feel of your outdoor space
Jasmines are available in many varieties to suit different climates and growing conditions. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to plant and care for jasmine as a stunning front yard ground cover.
Reasons to Use Jasmine as Ground Cover
There are many great reasons to consider jasmine for covering bare ground in your front yard
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Beautiful blooms – Jasmines produce attractive clusters of trumpet or star-shaped flowers in shades of white, yellow, or pink depending on variety. The blooms add striking color.
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Sweet fragrance – Many types of jasmine are intensely and pleasantly fragrant, filling the air with a lovely scent.
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Lush greenery – Jasmines have glossy green leaves that provide full, attractive coverage. Foliage stays evergreen in warmer climates.
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Versatile vining or shrubby habit – Some jasmine varieties vine and can be trellised, while others form a dense shrubby mat.
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Low maintenance – Once established, jasmines require little care and are drought tolerant. They choke out weeds well.
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Erosion control – Jasmine forms a solid ground cover that stabilizes soil and prevents erosion on slopes.
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Attracts pollinators – The flowers draw hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to your front yard.
By transforming bare ground into an ocean of green foliage and sensational blooms, jasmine can take your front yard curb appeal up a notch! It’s a gorgeous, eco-friendly alternative to water-hungry grass lawns.
Popular Types of Jasmine for Front Yards
Here are some top varieties to consider when planting jasmine as an appealing front yard ground cover:
Yellow Star Jasmine
One evergreen vining jasmine that grows well in zones 7-10 is yellow star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum). Abundant small yellow star-shaped blooms with a heavenly fragrance appear in spring and summer. Space plants 2-3 feet apart for solid coverage. Grows 6-12 inches tall. Thrives in sun or partial shade. Needs good drainage. Looks lovely trellised.
Asiatic Jasmine
Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is a fast spreading Asian native suitable for zones 7-11. Grows 8-12 inches tall. Has small white flowers with jasmine scent from late spring to early summer. Plant 12-18 inches apart. Likes sun to part shade. Drought tolerant once established. Makes a lush evergreen mat.
Primrose Jasmine
For warmer climates, primrose jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi) is a great choice for zones 7-10. Grows 1-2 feet tall and spreads widely. Has clusters of sunny yellow blooms in late winter and early spring. Plant 18-24 inches apart. Does well in full sun or partial shade. Tolerates heat and drought when established. Good drainage is essential.
Winter Jasmine
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) offers brilliant yellow blooms in winter on bare stems, for zones 6-9. This deciduous shrub grows 2-4 feet tall and spreads 6-10 feet wide. Plant 4-6 feet apart. Give it full sun to partial shade and moist well-draining soil. Prune old stems after flowering.
Arabian Jasmine
Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) is a deliciously fragrant flowering vine for zones 9-11. Has dark shiny leaves and extremely fragrant white blooms that appear over a long season. Grow in filtered sun to partial shade with fertile moist soil. Space 18-24 inches apart. Can be trellised or left to wander 1-2 feet tall as a spreading ground cover.
Primrose Jasmine
For warmer climates, consider primrose jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi) which thrives in zones 7-10. It grows 1-2 feet tall and spreads widely as a sprawling ground cover. Showy yellow blooms open in late winter and early spring. Site in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates heat and drought when established. Space plants 18 inches apart.
Angel Wing Jasmine
Angel wing jasmine (Jasminum nitidum) is an unusual trailing ground cover for zones 9-11. Horizontal branching stems root along the ground up to 15 feet. Has unique round dark green leaves. Solitary white blooms appear over a long season and fill the air with intense fragrance. Give it partial to full shade and rich moist well-draining soil. Space plants 3 feet apart.
Carolina Jasmine
For a vigorous native ground cover, Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) grows well across zones 6-9. This evergreen vine has glossy leaves and bright yellow trumpet-shaped blooms in early spring. Grow in sun or partial shade with moist fertile soil. Allow it to scramble along the ground 6-12 inches tall or trellis it. Space plants 12 inches apart. Prune lightly after flowering. Attracts pollinators. Drought tolerant when established.
Madagascar Jasmine
Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda) is a trailing vine perfect for zones 9-11. Has waxy dark green leaves and highly fragrant waxy white tubular flowers clustered from spring into summer. Grow in bright filtered light and rich moist organic soil. Space 18-24 inches apart to cover the ground. Allow it to wander or train onto short trellises up to 3 feet tall. Pinch tips regularly. Bring indoors as a houseplant in colder climates.
Planting and Caring for Jasmine
Follow these tips to successfully grow jasmine as an appealing, low maintenance front yard ground cover:
Site Selection
- Choose a spot that receives full sun to partial shade depending on variety. Most prefer at least 6 hours of direct sun.
- Well-draining soil is essential for healthy jasmine. Amend clay soils with compost.
- Allow plenty of room for the jasmine to spread out. It can be contained by sidewalks, driveways, or lawn areas.
Planting
- Dig holes 12-24 inches apart depending on mature size, spreading roots horizontally.
- Set plants at same soil level as in nursery pot and backfill holes with native soil.
- Water thoroughly after planting.
Care
- Water 1-2 times per week until established, then only during drought. Most are quite drought tolerant once established.
- Apply 2-3 inch organic mulch layer to help retain moisture and reduce weeds.
- Fertilize in early spring and midsummer with organic balanced fertilizer.
- Prune lightly after flowering to shape and contain spread if needed.
- Monitor for pests like spider mites, mealybugs, or scale and treat organically as needed.
With its sensational blooms, marvelous fragrance, lush foliage, and versatile growth habits, jasmine is sure to transform your front yard into a tropical oasis. Choose the right variety for your climate and site conditions, and enjoy its low maintenance beauty for years to come. Your neighbors will be green with envy!
How and When To Plant Star Jasmine in the Garden
Star jasmine care is very minimal. Star jasmine plants will grow in a variety of soils, and though they bloom best in full sun, they do well in partial shade and will even tolerate heavy shade.
Space your star jasmine plants five feet (1.5 m.) apart if you’re using them as ground cover. Star jasmine can be planted at any time, usually as cuttings propagated from another plant. It’s disease and pest hardy, though you may see trouble from Japanese beetles, scales, and sooty mold.
Growing Star Jasmine Vine
Gardeners in warm climates (USDA Zones 8-10) can grow star jasmine as ground cover, where it will overwinter. This is ideal, as star jasmine can be slow to grow at first and may take some time to get established. Once mature, it will reach a height and spread of 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.).
Prune any upward reaching shoots to maintain an even height. In addition to ground cover, star jasmine plants climb well and can be trained to grow on trellises, doorways, and posts to make for beautiful, fragrant decorations.
In areas any cooler than Zone 8, you should plant your star jasmine in a pot that can be brought inside during the colder months, or treat it as an annual. Once it gets going, it will bloom most in the spring, with more sporadic blooming throughout the summer. The blossoms are pure white, pinwheel shaped, and beautifully perfumed.
Asian jasmine is a tough, vigorous ground cover
FAQ
What are the downsides of jasmine plants?
Most people like to keep Jasmine plants indoors. However, this can cause a problem as the Jasmine plant often attracts bees that can sting. A most common problem with Jasmine plants is that they attract diseases like blight and rust. Jasmine plants can often suffer from slow growth due to deficiency of Calcium.
Is jasmine ground cover invasive?
It is not considered an invasive ground cover plant and can be trimmed back to the desired length. How Long Does It Take This Ground Cover To Spread?
What are the common problems with Asiatic jasmine?
The most common diseases of jasmine are blight, rust and Fusarium wilt, all of which affect numerous other varieties of plants.Apr 6, 2021
Can a jasmine plant be used as a ground cover?
While not all plants called “jasmine” are true jasmines, there are several varieties that can be used as ground covers. One popular choice is the Asiatic jasmine, which is a sprawling ground cover that does not climb much. How many square feet should a jasmine plant cover?
Which jasmine is commonly used for front yard ground cover?
Perhaps the most common types used for front yard ground cover are Asian Jasmine ( Trachelospermum asiaticum) and Confederate Jasmine / Star Jasmine ( Trachelospermum jasminoides ). Jasmine is able to spread quickly and to cover large areas of ground.
How to plant star jasmine as a ground cover?
Here are the steps to planting star jasmine as a ground cover: 1. Choose the right location: Star jasmine can grow in full sun or partial shade, but it will thrive in a location that gets both. Make sure the soil drains well and is rich in organic material. 2.
Is Asiatic jasmine a good plant for ground cover?
Asiatic jasmine is a popular choice for ground cover due to its hardiness and low maintenance. This vine-like plant is native to Japan and Korea and is perfect for mass plantings or as a turfgrass alternative.
Is Arabian jasmine a good ground cover?
Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) is a delightfully scented flowering vine suitable as a ground cover in zones 9-11. Glossy evergreen foliage contrasts beautifully with extremely fragrant white blooms that appear spring through fall. Give Arabian jasmine full sun to partial shade and fertile moist soil.
Is yellow star jasmine a good ground cover?
Yellow star jasmine is perfect for cascading over walls, trellises, and arbors. Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is a fast-growing Asian native that works well as a ground cover from zones 7-11. It reaches 8-12 inches tall and spreads by rhizomes and layering stems to cover expansive areas.