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Jasminum nudiflorum, or Winter Jasmine, is a deciduous, scrambling shrub native to China. In nature, the shrubs will reach 15 feet (4.6 m) in height with equal spread. The 4-angled branches and stem are very diffuse but not climbing. Leaves are opposite, with 3 leaflets to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The plants have an interesting appearance in the landscape and in containers. They bloom before the Forsythia's bloom, often being the only plant blooming in the winter landscape. Plants are hardy in USDA zone 6-10.
Blooming: Here in Oklahoma, the plants start to bloom in late December and continue to bloom to early spring. The bright yellow, 1 inch (2.54 cm) across flowers are very showy in the bleak winter landscape.
Culture: Jasminum nudiflorum need full sun to partial shade, with a well drained soil mix, if grown in containers. Here in the greenhouse, we used to grow them in containers, but their blooming habit was sporadic. Now plants in containers are allowed to over winter outside in the elements and blooming has gotten better. In containers, we use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 2 parts sand. The plants are well watered and allowed to dry slightly before watering again. We fertilize them monthly with a balanced fertilizer. In the landscape, they will tolerate a wide range of soil types. In Oklahoma, I have seen them grow in about every type of soil we have except heavy red clay. At first when trying to establish plants in the landscape they need support for a couple of years. Plants in containers will also need support at least initially. They do well with moderate watering in the landscape, and fertilizer should be used monthly in the growing season. In the greenhouse, we move the plants in containers to the outdoors in early fall. This helps in setting up the blooming season.
Propagation: Jasminum nudiflorum is propagated by cuttings taken in spring after blooming, by division of large clumps, by layers and from seed.
Jasminum nudiflorum was featured as Plant of the Week February 15-21, 2008.
Guide to Past Plants-of-the-Week:
Cal's Plant of the Week is provided as a service by the University of Oklahoma Department of Botany & Microbiology and specifically Cal Lemke, who is OU's botany greenhouse grower and an avid gardener at home as well. If the above links don't work, then try the overview site. You may also like to look at the thumbnail index. To receive Plant-of-the-Week by e-mail, go to the Plant-of-the-Week listserv subscription page. To contact us, please use this online form. ©1998-2009 All rights reserved.