Star Jasmine

Day 266: New to the garden this year is Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). After multiple attempts to propagate cuttings from a friend's plant, I gave up and bought one to replace a failing clematis on a small trellis at the corner of the house. As its Latin binomial indicates, Star Jasmine is not a true Jasmine, but has a similar flower form ("jasminoides" means "jasmine-like"). It is highly fragrant, particularly on evenings following warm days. It can be grown as a ground cover (i.e, "mounded") or as a climbing vine. It asks for at least 8 hours of sunlight per day, and soil which is neither too wet nor too dry. It is hardy in our Pacific Northwest climate, although if temps drop below zero in winter, it might require protection.