Wonder Plant!

This is Winter Jasmine that I planted on a steep embankment in the Crestwood area of Birmingham. I also used landscape fabric which contributed to the clean, weed free environment the jasmine is growing in.


I should temper my enthusiasm, lest I become remininscent of magazine ads proclaiming "watch it grow, it's just that fast" or "a few small pots will become an orchard in mere months!" BUT! I am impressed with this plant - Winter Jasmine. It's a mostly evergreen, medium sized shrub that has cute yellow blooms in the winter (yes! the winter) and will tolerate a variety of conditions. Given its tendency to root where ever a stem touches the ground, it's a great plant for difficult slopes, yet despite the tendency to root, it will not quickly become an intruder on your other plants. Winter Jasmine is very cold hardy for our area and easy to grow. No, it's not super showy in bloom, like a crepe myrtle, for example, but I have seen quite a few very nice stands in bloom. I'd definitely suggest using a grouping to make an impact. Note: Be sure to distinguish Winter Jasmine (Jasminun nudiflorum) from Showy Jasmine (Jasminun floridum) or Primrose Jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi). While those are nice plants, they grow larger than Winter Jasmine and are not as cold hardy.
In conclusion, I recommend Winter Jasmine because they:
1. are easy to grow
2. blooms when almost nothing else is
3. are cold hardy for the Central Alabama area
4. are good for erosion control
5. can be found in a one gallon size, which is good for the pocket book
6. grow moderately fast, but not to a fault
7. perform well in full sun or part shade
8. can put on quite a show when in bloom