Even though it shows off its beautiful blooms in the dead of winter, winter jasmine actually prefers to be planted in the spring. That said, you can get it into the ground during other seasons too. Here’s the lowdown on the best timing for different planting scenarios:
- In the spring
- In the fall
- During propagation
Spring
The absolute best time for planting winter jasmine is during the spring. This gives the plant plenty of time to establish a strong root system and get some growth under its belt before the cold hits. If you’re lucky, you might even see some flowers by the following winter! Picking the right spot for your jasmine will go a long way in helping it reach its full blooming potential in that very first year.
Fall
You can also plant winter jasmine in the early fall. Since this plant is a pretty vigorous grower, it can usually develop enough new roots to survive the winter—as long as the root ball is healthy and undamaged when it goes into the ground. Just keep in mind that you’ll likely have to wait until the following winter to see those yellow blossoms.
To give your young jasmine a little extra TLC during its first cold snap, it’s a good idea to cover the soil with some mulch or evergreen brush. Normally, winter jasmine only needs winter protection if it’s in a container. However, if it’s only been in the ground for a few weeks and hasn’t fully settled in yet, that extra layer of warmth definitely won’t hurt.
During Propagation
When it comes to propagating winter jasmine, your planting schedule depends on which method you’re using. We usually look at two main ways:
- Layering (natural ground-rooting)
- Cuttings
Planting time for layered shoots
Sometimes winter jasmine does the work for you by rooting its own branches where they touch the ground. Theoretically, you can snip these off and move them to a new spot any time of year. However, the best time to “encourage” a layered shoot is in April, right after the blooming season ends. By early summer, it should have enough roots to stand on its own. Just snip it from the parent plant and move it to its new home.
Planting time for cuttings
If you’re starting with cuttings (or “slips”), early summer is your best bet. By then, the danger of frost has passed, and the cutting has plenty of time to grow a solid root system before the winter chill returns.
