Winter Jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum

Winter jasmine is a medium-sized, fountain-like, deciduous shrub that grows up to 4 feet tall. If it is grown as a vine, it will reach a height of 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. It has long arching branches and willowy stems. In January or February, bright yellow tubular or funnel-shaped blooms appear before the leaves have emerged. They are typically the first flowers to bloom in the landscape. The shrub makes a dense green mound during the summer. This plant roots easily where arching branches touch the soil. The leaves are opposite and have trifoliate leaflets. The stems are square and green. If fruits occur, they are two-lobed blackberries.

This plant is native to Southeastern Tibet to Central China. In China, this plant is often called "Yingchun" which means "flower that welcomes spring".

The genus name, Jasminum, is a Latin name for the Persian name yasmin or yasamin. The specific epithet, nudiflorum, means the flowers emerge before the leaves.

Winter Jasmine prefers full sun to partial shade. It will grow in heavy shade, but the flowers will be reduced. It prefers well-drained soils, but it is adaptable to a variety of soil types and does well in poor soils. The cane-like, rapid growth creates colonies that look messy if unpruned. It can be rejuvenated by severe pruning after flowering.

Consider the Winter Jasmine for mass plantings as a ground cover for slopes or banks. It may be used on a terrace or stone walls as a trailing vine. Training the vine to grow on a trellis, pergolas, or support structure will add interest to the late winter landscape.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom: Late Winter and Early Spring     Foliage: Late Spring and Summer

Quick ID Hints:

• sprawling, arching shrub or trailing, cascading vine
• bark is green initially then after the first year turns gray to reddish-brown, thin, scaly
• stems are green, quadrangular
• buds are pointed, 1/8 inch long, and red and green 
• shiny dark green leaves opposite, trifoliate, leaflets ovate to oblong
• blooms are bright yellow, non-fragrant, funnel-shaped with 6 petals, 1-inch in diameter, bloom January to February
• rarely produces fruit in cultivation; however, if seen presents as a two-lobed blackberry,

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Winter Jasmine has no serious insect or disease problems. Monitor for Japanese beetles, mealy bugs, and aphids.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

More information on Jasminum.