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Jasminum nudiflorum

Phonetic Spelling
JAs-mi-num nu-di-FLO-rum
Description

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aurem'
    Leaves are blotched with yellow
'Aurem'
Tags:
#deciduous#shrub#yellow flowers#deciduous shrub#winter interest#pet friendly#disease resistant#fast growing#pest resistant#trellises#cascading#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#deciduous vine#black fruits#fantz#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#garden walls#arbor#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#pruning tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aurem'
    Leaves are blotched with yellow
'Aurem'
Tags:
#deciduous#shrub#yellow flowers#deciduous shrub#winter interest#pet friendly#disease resistant#fast growing#pest resistant#trellises#cascading#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#deciduous vine#black fruits#fantz#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#garden walls#arbor#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#pruning tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Jasminum
    Species:
    nudiflorum
    Family:
    Oleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South East Tibet to Central China
    Distribution:
    Native: China North-Central, China South-Central, and Tibet. Introduced; Bulgaria, France, Korea, and the United States--AL
    Play Value:
    Colorful
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Cascading
    Spreading
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is rarely produced in cultivation. If seen, it will appear as a two-lobed blackberry.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are bright yellow, non-fragrant, funnel to tubular-shaped, 6-petaled, 1 to 2 inches long, and 1 inch across. Inflorescence is axillary cymes. Blooming in late winter or early spring from January to February.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are shiny green, opposite, and trifoliate. Leaflets are ovate to oblong-ovate and 0.5 to 1 inch long. The leaves emerge after the flowers have bloomed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Scaly
    Bark Description:
    The bark is initially green. After the first year, the bark turns gray to reddish-brown, thin, and scaly.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stems are green, quadrangular, glabrous, slender, and arching. The buds are pointed, 1/8 inch long, red and green.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Naturalized Area
    Recreational Play Area
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Heavy Shade
    Insect Pests