Winter jasmine is a total breeze to grow and a real lifesaver for low-maintenance gardens. This versatile shrub can reach up to 15 feet, and because of its unique growing habits, you can use it in all sorts of ways. It works perfectly as:
- A lush groundcover
- A living privacy fence
- Decorative greenery for walls
How to Plant Your Winter Jasmine
The basic planting process is pretty much the same regardless of where you’re putting it. Just make sure you’ve picked out a great spot and are planting at the right time of year. Once you’re ready, just follow these simple steps:
- Place the root ball in a bucket of water to let it soak.
- Loosen up the soil nice and deep, mixing in some compost if your dirt needs a little boost.
- Dig a hole that’s slightly larger than the root ball.
- Once the air bubbles stop rising in the water bucket, place your jasmine in the hole.
- Fill the rest of the hole back in with soil.
- Give it one more good watering to help it settle.
If you’re planting it as a standalone shrub without a trellis, give it about 5 feet of space. If you’re using a support or planting it as a hedge, 3 feet of spacing is plenty.
Using Winter Jasmine as Groundcover
Winter jasmine is a fantastic groundcover because its branches actually sprout new roots wherever they touch the soil. It has a lovely arching habit that looks great on slopes. In fact, it’s a hero for hillsides because those roots help stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
Dressing Up Walls with Winter Jasmine
There’s nothing quite like the look of winter jasmine cascading down a stone wall. If you plant it at the top, the branches will naturally find their way down on their own. However, if you want it to grow *up* a wall, you’ll need to provide a trellis or some kind of support to help it climb.
Planting Winter Jasmine for Privacy
You can also use winter jasmine to create a “green screen,” which is perfect for filling in gaps in a chain-link or picket fence. The fence itself acts as your trellis—just weave the first few shoots through the gaps or secure them loosely with some garden twine. If you’re looking for privacy around a patio, just set up a dedicated trellis and let the jasmine do its thing!
