TRACHELOSPERMUM JASMINOIDES - OTAGO DAILY TIMES PLANT OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2008

A Chinese native, this is one vine that will dominate your garden throughout summer with its flowers and fragrance.  Evergreen in nature, Star Jasmine's thick glossy leaves provide a wonderful backdrop for the abundance of little star shaped white flowers that smother the vine throughout the summer months.  A climber by nature, it requires minimal maintenance whilst scrambling up trellis, verandah posts, along a fence or even that old garden shed that has become an eyesore.  It also makes a wonderful ground cover with any wayward tendrils pinned to the ground or grown over a small structure.  Pots and urns will contain this one to the confines of your courtyard or deck for urban dwellings.

Preferring a free drained soil in full sun/part shade, Star Jasmine will eventually spread to a height of 3 metres by 3 metres if desired or train to size and shape.  For nourishment, try dressing with a general garden fertilizer late autumn.  Trachelospermum Jasminoides is available now in garden centres.

Congratulations to H McComb, J Sutherland and B Smith, who each won a Trachelospermum jasminoides by entering our competition in The Otago Daily Times.  Your plants have been couriered to you.